Roger Lonnevik, 90, of Glenwood, IA passed away at the Linnwood Estates in Glenwood on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.
Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bellevue, NE. A Time of Gathering will be held prior to the service at the church, starting at 10:00 a.m. Write a personal tribute for the Lonnevik family at www.loesshillsfuneralhome.com
Roger Orin Lonnevik, son of John and Mabel (Knutson) Lonnevik, was born on September 14, 1925 in Scandinavia, Wisconsin. He was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Iola, Wisconsin. In 1943, Roger graduated from high school in Iola. In the fall of 1944, Roger was drafted into the U. S. Army and served together with his twin brother, Russell. Upon his return from the service he attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Olaf College in 1951. In 1966, Roger received his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska. Roger married Mildred Mehus on August 13, 1949, in a triple wedding ceremony with his twin brother Russell, who married Ruth Nelson, and Roy Larson, who married Esther Nelson, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Belmond, Iowa. Roger was a social worker for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for 23 years. He worked on several Indian Reservations in North Dakota and South Dakota. In 1981, Roger retired from the BIA and he and Mildred moved to Belmond, Iowa, to help his twin brother (Russell and sons) with farming. During this time he also served as Wright County Supervisor. Roger and Mildred enjoyed many years of winter season retirement in Apache Junction, Arizona. In 2006, Mildred and Roger relocated to Glenwood, Iowa, to be closer to their girls and family.
Roger passed away on February 23, 2016, at Linnwood Estates in Glenwood, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mabel Lonnevik; sister Marcella (Edwin) Larson; and twin brother Russell Lonnevik. Roger is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Mildred Lonnevik; four daughters, Marcia (Dick) Cain, Lois (Ken) Whitacre, Signe Bonnet, and Sonja (Paul) Cambridge; grandchildren, Corey (Jen) Cain, Cagney (Andrew) Tipton, Dain Whitacre and Quentin Marquez; step-grandchildren, Mason (Kelly) Cambridge, Miller, Taylor, Baker Cambridge, Derek Whitacre, and two great granddaughters, Berkley and Kimber Cain.