Roger D. Wilson, age 75, of Aitkin, Minn., died Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Aicota Assisted Living Center, Aitkin.
Roger was born June 17, 1937, at Clear Lake, Iowa, the son of Robert Todd and Lottie (Yeiser) Wilson.
He attended country schools in Clear Lake and then moved to Dexter, Minn., and graduated from Elkton High School.
He then enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Panama Canal and at Norfolk, Va. Upon his discharge he returned to Austin, Minn., and attended hair styling school.
He married Sandra Glynn on Nov. 10, 1962, at Grand Meadow, Minn. They lived in the Austin area for about nine years and then moved to the Aitkin area and Roger worked as a deejay for KVBR in Brainerd.
He then took a position with the Burns and Kneeland Lumber Company based in Aitkin.
In 1978 Roger and Keith Laugen, Bob Armstrong and Ed Fleming bought out the Burns and Kneeland Lumber Company and started Lake States Lumber which operated as a small wholesale lumber brokerage but it grew into a large distribution lumber company across the Midwest with locations in Aitkin, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Schofield and Sparta.
Roger and Keith operated the business until 2003 when he retired.
Roger loved the people at Lake States Lumber Company and wanted to help everyone who worked there to succeed. His door was always open.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Eastern Star and A.A. He enjoyed helping and supporting others overcome their addiction.
He enjoyed coin collecting and getting out fished by his wife on Rainy Lake.
He is survived by his wife, Sandy Wilson of Aitkin; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Julie Wilson of Aitkin; three grandchildren, Tanner, Brynn and Reagan; two brothers, Harold (Carol) Wilson of Missouri and Matelin “Shorty” (Linda) Wilson of Elkton, Minn.; and sister, Betty (James) Threinen of Plymouth, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Robert Todd Wilson.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, May 3, at First Lutheran Church. Aitkin, with the Rev. Darrell Peterson officiating.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church.
Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home. www.srtfuneral.com.
