Roger D. Skallerud

Obituaries

Roger D. Skallerud passed away at the age of 81 on Saturday, August 17, 2024 in Watertown, SD.

There will be no services as per Roger’s wishes.

“Others may tell you I have gone to a better life.  I was perfectly happy where I was.” – Roger

Roger Dennis Skallerud was born December 16, 1942 in Blue Earth, Minnesota to Orville L. and Marie J. (Johnson) Skallerud.  He grew up and attended school in Clear Lake, South Dakota.  After graduation Roger attended USD in Vermillion; Dakota State in Madison and received his Bachelor of Science; and then SDSU in Brookings where he earned his Master’s Degree in Education.  Roger has degrees in diverse trades including meat cutting, auctioneering, counseling and psychology. After completing graduate school he spent the next 50 years in various settings.  Roger was a National Board Certified Licensed Professional Counselor and certified Psychological examiner. He was an Eagle Scout, member of Phi Delta Kappa.  He received many honors for his counseling skills and was awarded the Counselor of the Year in both North Dakota and South Dakota.

He met his wife Carolyn in the early 60’s, fell in love and never looked back.  They were married August 28, 1966 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Clear Lake.  They were happily in love for 58 years!

The couple lived in various places such as Lamoure, Wahpeton and Oakes, North Dakota and also Bismarck, Clear Lake and Belle Fourche, South Dakota.  After retiring in 2007 he sold their house in the country and moved into Belle Fourche.  He and Carolyn continued to ride bicycles hundreds of miles. In the past decades Roger and Carolyn went on many kayak trips and races; backpacked extensively in the western United States and Canada.  The couple spent summers on bicycle trips and fishing in Canada as well as participating in hundreds of team roping and rodeos.  A diagnosis of Parkinson’s slowed him down some but he continued running and going to the gym.

Roger and Carolyn moved to Watertown, South Dakota in 2021.

Roger will be remembered by his loving wife, Carolyn Skallerud of Watertown; his brothers, Chuck Skallerud of Wichita Falls, TX and Rick (Carol) Skallerud of Sioux Falls, SD; his sister, Jane Skallerud of Watertown, SD; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Marie Skallerud.

Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel serving the family –  www.wightandcomes.com.