Roger Whiting

Remembering Roger….
Writing Roger’s obituary is much easier said, than done. How do we condense such a rich life into a few paragraphs?
Let’s start with some indisputable facts:  Roger L. Whiting, 74, of Custer, S.D., passed away Nov. 25, 2021, at Monument Health Custer Hospital.
Roger was born Dec. 23, 1946, in Rosebud, S.D., to Arlington and LaVerne (Frank) Whiting. Roger was the first Whiting in his family to earn a college degree, obtaining his Associates Degree in Forestry from Sinte Gleska University. Roger married Irene Jean Williams in 1971 and to their union was born one daughter and three grandsons. Roger married Monica Whiting in 1978 and to their union was born three sons and one granddaughter.  
Roger had a smorgasbord of careers including, but not limited to, rancher, milk truck driver, tribal police officer, city police officer, Todd County Sheriff and forester for 30-plus years.
Roger was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, lifetime member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, a Radioman 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy until his honorable discharge in 1970 and a member of the Old Antarctic Explorers  Association Inc.
These personal attributes of Roger are still indisputable facts, but are subjective given each individual’s personal relationship with Roger. We have listed them in bullets, as we could fill pages describing how he personified these qualities.  In no particular order:
• Roger was ornery.
• Roger was forever fixing something, for somebody, for everybody.
• Roger had a strong will and defended his values.
• Roger liked to work with his hands, he was skilled and handy at welding among other crafts.
• Drinking coffee at French Creek Supply
• Roger was a hardworking man, efficient and productive.
• Roger was generous to a fault.
• And perhaps an understatement, but Roger was independent.
• Roger possessed the gift of being an amazing Grandpa.
• When Roger wasn’t busy with the above, he was busy telling his sons what to do.
Surviving Roger is Monica, his wife of 43 years; sons, Jacob Whiting; Aaron (Rebecca    Hannah) Whiting and Clarence (Thea Teasley) Whiting; daughter, Syd (Tim) Agla; brothers, Charles Whiting and Bill Whiting; sister, Laura Vodicka; and his grandchildren, Penelope Whiting, Brayden Agla, Colin Agla and Aaron Agla.
Roger’s life was celebrated at a Christian Funeral Vigil Nov. 28 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer.   Christian Funeral Mass was Nov. 29 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer, with Christian Funeral Committal following at Custer Cemetery.
Roger’s family request that remembrances be made in the form of donations to Operation Black Hills Cabin   Operationblackhillscabin.org

 

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