Winslow Don Rogers
Winslow Don Rogers
1938 ~ 2024
Don Rogers left his mortal estate on September 20, 2024 to return home to his loving Heavenly Father and Savior. Waiting to greet him were his parents, Joe and Esther (Backe) Rogers, brothers Wendal, Jim, and Buddy, and sisters Toni (Baker) and Veronica (Dixie) Bailey.
Family was his greatest joy, so he will be anxiously awaiting the reunion of loved ones left behind, including his sweetheart of sixty years, Janet (Snarr); beloved children, Glen (Grace); Steve (Monica); Neil (Christine); Milan (Emily); Dana (Sam Spear); and Jordan (Hannah); precious grandchildren, Kelly, Mike, Juan Morales Jr., Mason (Jess), Jack (Sabrina), Jackson, Zachary (Daisy), Stuart, Ben, Teagan (Rodrigo), Brandon, Logan, Jameson, Brooke, Lauren (Morales), Xander, Mia, Tyson, Roger, Scout, Emmelyn, Nathaniel, and Hobbes; and delightful great-grandchildren, Nelly, Rome, and Oliver.
Don will also be greatly missed by nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous dear friends.
Winslow Don Rogers was born July 5, 1938, in Stetsonville, Wisconsin. When he was just a few months old, his parents moved the family to Blue River, Wisconsin, where he spent his formative years learning to work hard on neighboring farms during the summers and attending Blue River schools in the winter.
Don played drums in the school marching band grades 8-12. He was recruited to play football for Blue River High, where he earned the title of All-Conference Center his senior year. Don’s graduating class of 1956 numbered 28, and at graduation he was chosen by the faculty as “The Student Most Likely to Succeed”. That was a real honor for Don, since he came from one of the two poorest families in town.
After graduation, Don tried his hand at several jobs, including milking 200 cows twice a day for a farmer in Illinois, which he decided very quickly was definitely not the job for him. He then tried his hand at welding in Milwaukee. Every day on his way home from welding, he would stop in the hiring office for work on the boats hauling iron ore, coal, etc. on the Great Lakes. After several weeks, he was offered a job as deck hand on the Edmund W. Mudge. Don would work a total of five seasons as a merchant marine on the Great Lakes.
At the end of his first season on the boat, he received a call from his mom, asking for his help. Don’s family had never owned a home of their own. His mom had found an old service station that was for sale. Could he buy it for her? He immediately laid out $900 and bought the property for her. Then he spent the next month’s off-season adding three additional rooms and a bathroom, so his mom could finally have a home of her own. She loved that little home for the rest of her life.
Don’s second season on the Lakes was one that was to change his life’s course forever. His new shipmate was a student of different religions. At the time he met Don, he was studying “Mormonism”. As his shipmate shared what he had learned, Don gained a witness that what he was being told was true. His new friend gave Don a dog-eared Book of Mormon, which he read in five days. Don studied The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a year and a half, and when he finished the season on the Great Lakes in fall 1958, he went to Madison, Wisconsin and requested baptism.
Don enrolled in Brigham Young University and attended winter quarter 1959, before returning to the Great Lakes for another season. He was called to serve a mission to his mother’s beloved homeland, Norway, for two and a half years, 1961-1963. Because he was older than all the other missionaries, he was known as the “grandfather” of the mission. Don loved his mission and Norway, and always said it prepared him for the rest of his life. After his mission release, he returned immediately to BYU.
He met his future wife, Janet Snarr, the day after he was released from his mission. They were married a year later in the Salt Lake Temple, and had sixty great years together.
Don graduated in 1965 in political science and history, with a minor in Norwegian. He spent the next year doing graduate work. In June 1967, Don joined the FBI as a special agent, with a specialty in Norwegian. During the next twenty-two years, he gave his heart and soul to that institution that he loved and was proud of. As the Bureau’s translator of Scandinavian languages, he used his Norwegian often and could “snakke Norsk” throughout his life. Don retired from the FBI in December 1988. In August 1989, he accepted employment with the State of Utah as a senior investigator for the Department of Professional Licensing. He worked there for seventeen years, retiring in June, 2006.
Don’s favorite hobbies included working on cars, and he could often be found in his big garage, working on “fixer-uppers” or helping a friend with car problems.
He was also an avid reader of many genres, and would often share his books with friends. All his children are grateful that he instilled in them a love of the written word.
Don enjoyed going to movies and would often be one of the first to see the latest action movie in town. His family believes his real reason to go to the movies was so he could get a large popcorn – the movie was always better with popcorn.
The family took road trips every summer, with Dad at the wheel. There were lots of adventures from west coast to east coast, to the Northwest, to Canada, to the Black Hills of South Dakota, to the Midwest and, as the children married and flew the coop, to the various states where they lived.
Don spent many years serving in the Church he loved. He was an amazing Sunday School teacher, a faithful home teacher, counselor in a bishopric, and remained a life-time missionary, whether it was serving as a Seventy for many years, or just sharing with a friend.
Don’s greatest love was his family. He was always so proud of his six children, and as each of the grandchildren came along, he loved spending time with them when he could. He always was anxious for them to know how much he loved them and how proud he was of them. He especially loved babies. He was an affectionate father and grandfather. His latest joys were the arrival of three great-grandchildren.
Don had innumerable “best friends.” He never met a stranger. His friends are of all ages and can be found around the world.
Thank you, Don, for making the lives of all you’ve met richer and more meaningful.
As a family we are so grateful for the numerous visits from family and friends, as well as prayers on his behalf all across the country. We have felt the impact of those prayers and support.
Don slipped away peacefully as loved ones surrounded him in his final hours. We shared songs, memories and love, both in person and virtually – a truly moving experience.
His legacy is built on expressing love to those around him. The power of his love is undeniable. Whenever we think of this remarkable man, his frequently expressed sentiments come to mind: “I’m so proud of you!” You’re amazing!” “I love you dearly!” His words inspired confidence, and his selfless service to others transformed countless lives.
Don, we love you and will miss you – until we meet again.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 11:00 am in the Creekside Ward Chapel, located at 327 South Long Drive, Alpine, Utah 84004. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Creekside Ward Chapel and also at an additional viewing on Friday morning from 9:30-10:30 am prior to services at the church.
During and after the evening viewing, friends are invited to step into the cultural hall to view a slide presentation of Don’s life. At 8:00 pm friends and family are invited to join in an “Open Mike Reflections” for those who would like to share their memories of Don. If you would like to share a memory, but cannot be in attendance, send your thoughts to grammyrogers@hotmail.com to have your comments shared.
Burial will be Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 1:00 pm, in the Mapleton, Idaho Cemetery. The cemetery address is East Sugar Creek Road Preston (Mapleton), ID 83237. Entrance to Sugar Creek Road is across the street from the LDS Chapel on Cub River Road.