Roger Will

Roger (Rog) Will passed away peacefully July 26 at the age of 84 at his Bass Lake home in Cohasset, MN.

Born and raised in Deer River, MN… on the south side of the tracks… Roger excelled in football, basketball and track. His father nurtured his love of hunting and fishing.

Roger graduated from Deer River High School in 1959, and kept lifelong from Deep River.  He earned a teaching credential at U.M.D in Duluth, MN where he also played college basketball—declining football invitations because he didn’t want to miss fall hunting and wild rice harvesting.

Roger accepted his first teaching position through a phone interview from the small Alaskan town of Sitka before even knowing where it was on a map. He taught and coached in Sitka for three years and embraced hunting and fishing on Alaska scale.

He also resumed his love of basketball and became a proud member of the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) in 1965, enjoying many games and friendships traveling with his team.

Roger married Elizabeth (Betty) Bemis in 1966, and after returning from Alaska they built and enjoyed their home on the west side of Bass Lake next to the family cabin.  Roger was proud of his children, encouraging their interests and instilling the love of sports, hunting, fishing and various outdoor activities.

Roger enjoyed working hard, whether teaching, coaching or during summer months, to provide a “wonderful life on the lake” for his family.

Upon his return to Minnesota, Roger taught history at the Connor Jasper Middle School in Bovey, MN, and completed his master’s degree in counseling at Bemidji State University.

While teaching at Connor Jasper, he met the love of his life, his ‘“Annie”. They were married in 1990 in Hawaii.  Roger and Ann enjoyed their home on Bass Lake for 35 years, one of his favorite places on earth! They also enjoyed wintering in Lake Havasu City, AZ, where they were doubly blessed with many wonderful friendships.

Cribbage was more than a hobby with Rog and Ann­—it was a competition; bets taken and yearly wins recorded.  Roger also loved motorcycles and said he “savored every mile on the road.”

One of his special gifts was the ability to reallylisten and connect with others. Due to his health over the last several years, even when he no longer could participate in all his favorite activities, Rog remained extremely positive, encouraging and enjoying those activities through the lens of other people.

Rog was a member of the Itasca County YMCA, the Itasca County and Lake Havasu City Pickleball Association, the Grand Rapids Gun Club, the Grand Rapids Eagles, and was a life time member of the Deer River Masonic Lodge.

Roger is survived by his wife Ann, son Richard Will (Vicky ), Daughter Sue Will (Taylor Bunes), Grandchildren Alanta Will (with Great Granddaughter Lily Sheppard), Teddy Will, Madison Bernard, and Parker Bernard (with Great Granddaughter Keely D’Allesandro), Sisters-in-Laws Mona Will, Belinda (Don) Carlson, Debra (Denny) Cowan and Brother-in-law, Lloyd(Julie) Magestad, special nephew, Steve Will, many other wonderful nieces and nephews and Daisy, his faithful and loving English Springer.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents Byron and Halga Will and his brother Don Will, nephew Bryan Will and neice, Holly Orhn.

Roger’s family extended a special “Thank You” to Dr. Nickovich and his amazing staff at the Jim Tarbell Cancer Center at Essentia Health as well as the wonderful caring Hospice staff at Essentia/Deer River

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Jim Tarbell Cancer Care Fund at Essentia Health in Deer River, or any charity of your choice.