Roger Allan Skophammer, Sr.

Skophammer, Roger Allan Sr. Age 91, of Bloomington, died peacefully at his home on October 5, 2020 under the care of his family. Roger was born on July 15, 1929 in Albert Lea, MN to father Grant Manford and mother Signa Goldean (Reeves). After graduating from Albert Lea high school, he attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, where he played football and graduated with a double major in English and history. Roger began his long journalism career on his birthday in 1953 at the Elgin Recorder in Oregon. He worked for several other newspapers soon after, including the Douglas Dispatch in Arizona, the Daytona Beach News-Journal in Florida and the El-Centro Post-Press in California, where he would meet and marry the paper's society editor, Laura Hughes in January, 1959. Roger and Laura moved back to Minnesota and Roger worked at the Rochester Post-Bulletin as a news reporter and then took a position as sports editor at the Albert Lea Tribune later that year. His big break came in 1963 when he was offered a position as a staff writer for the Duluth News Tribune and was soon promoted to news editor. Finally, in 1968, Roger landed at the Minneapolis Tribune (later the StarTribune) and would stay there for almost 30 years in various roles. Roger and Laura had four children and settled in Bloomington in 1968, where they would live for the rest of their lives. Roger was an encyclopedia of knowledge and loved playing games, watching movies and especially reading. He was a dedicated sports fan who loved the Vikings, Twins and whichever youth, high-school or college teams his children and grandchildren were playing for. He and Laura spent time with their families and traveled extensively - eventually Roger fulfilled his dream of visiting all 50 states. Roger loved his routines, which included going to the gym nearly every day well into his late 80s. Although he always considered himself a "newsman" even after retirement, he excelled at the role of grandpa and great-grandpa in his later years. He doted on the family and attended every sporting event, birthday party and school activity for as long as he could. Roger was a caring, gentle soul who left a remarkable legacy of love and compassion. He will be missed greatly by everyone who knew him. Preceded in death by his parents; wife Laura; brothers Jack, Jim, Bob and Bill; and granddaughter Maggie. Survived by his children, Roger Jr. (Kate), Trish, Gwen Kettinger (Jerry) and Peter (Dawn), all of Bloomington; his grandchildren Kayde Lausen, Coleraine; Elise Main, Apple Valley; Bill Kettinger, Richfield; Betsy Kettinger, St. Paul; Gary Nelson, St. Paul; Patsy Straus; Bloomington, Grant, Ethan and Luke Skophammer, Bloomington; and RT Skophammer, Bloomington; 12 great-grandchildren; brother Mike and sister Patty and many other relatives and friends. Private funeral service (due to COVID-19) will be held on Friday at Washburn-McReavy Dawn Valley Chapel, 9940 Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438. Interment at Hillcrest Cemetery, Albert Lea, MN at a later date.

Tributes

Roger Allan Skophammer, Sr.

July 15, 1929 - October 5, 2020

Tributes

Roger Allan Skophammer, Sr.

July 15, 1929 - October 5, 2020

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