Roger H. Goodfellow

Roger H. Goodfellow, 71, of Scranton, N.D., passed away on August 23, 2023 in Dickinson, N.D.

Memorial Services for Roger will be held on September 7 at 2:00 p.m. at the Abundant Life Assembly of God Church in Hettinger, N.D. Pastor Allen Wickstrom will officiate. Service will be live-streamed on the link below. (It will go active shortly before 2:00 p.m.). Please join the family on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Gordon Methodist Church fellowship hall in Gordon, Neb. for a Celebration of Life for Roger.

 https://www.facebook.com/ryan.goodfellow2?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Roger Hugh Goodfellow was born November 24, 1951, in Gordon, Neb. to Dorland “Hugh” Goodfellow and Lois (Purdy) Goodfellow. He was the oldest of 3 children, and has one sister, Susan, and one brother, Ron.

After graduating from Gordon High School, Roger enlisted in the US Navy and was assigned to the NSA as a computer programmer. Following his discharge from the Navy, Roger attended The National College of Business in Rapid City, SD where he met Rita Brethour. They started dating in the fall of 1975 and then married June 5, 1976. They briefly lived in Rapid City, then moved to Scottsbluff, Neb. and lived there for nearly 2 years while continuing college, before moving back to Gordon, where they started their family of two children Ryan and Rhonda. 

In Gordon, Roger worked as an assistant manager at Farmer’s Coop, and attended night classes at Chadron State College to earn his master’s degree in business administration, with the goal to advance into a General Manager position. Stepping into this role led to several moves for the family, first to Ogallala, Neb., then Maryville, Missouri, and eventually to what would become the family’s hometown in Scranton N.D. in 1995. There, Roger served as General Manager of Scranton Equity Exchange for 18 years before retiring in 2014. 

Roger loved “Do It Yourself” projects and fixing houses, and enjoyed fixing up their house in the country just outside Scranton. Following retirement he and Rita were able to make his lifelong dream of owning a cabin in the Black Hills come true. Working on the cabin was a great project for Roger and the whole family!

But among any achievements or titles Roger may have acquired throughout his lifetime, his favorite was the title of Grandpa. The oldest grandkids, Ali and Damon have so many fond memories of their time and adventures with Grandpa Roger – many of which included the instruction “Don’t tell Grandma…” His enterprising nature, love for adventure, and laughter were evident from early childhood and teenage years and remained a strong part of his character into his grandpa years. That same spark is notable in all his grandkids! 

Unfortunately, only a couple years after retirement, Roger began displaying signs of dementia, eventually progressing beyond what could be managed at home. The family moved Roger into Country House in Dickinson on August 23, 2022 and It was an excellent place for him to spend his final time – he passed away exactly 1 year later, in the early hours of Aug. 23 surrounded by family.

He is preceded in death by his Grandparents Ernest and Dorothy Purdy, & Hugh and Minnie Goodfellow, Uncles Jack Cobb, Roger Purdy and Lawrence Rock, Aunts Genevra Cobb and Vivian Rock, Parents Hugh and Lois Goodfellow, Parents-In-Law Roy and Dolores Brethour, and Brother-In-Law Randy George. He is survived by his wife Rita Goodfellow, Children Ryan (Alicia) Goodfellow with grandkids Ali Goodfellow, Josiah Chinburg, Logan Goodfellow and Laney Goodfellow, And Rhonda (Ryan) Huiner, with grandkids Andra Huiner, Damon Brackel, and Kale Huiner, aunt Maureen Purdy, sister Susan George, brother Ron (Jim Kirkness) Goodfellow, as well as brothers-in-law Vern Brethour and Fr. Gary Brethour, and 3 Nieces – Abbey (Shinze) George, Shaley George, and Annie (Stephan) Eichermueller. As well as numerous cousins and several great-nephews.