Roger Josephson

Funeral services for Roger Joesphson, 83, of Madison were held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 at Zahrbock Funeral Home Chapel in Madison, Minnesota. Rev. Keith Brustuen officiated at the service.
Special music was provided by Eunice Mork -pianist. Active casket bearers were Dalen Ferber, Evan Ferber, Kellen Ferber, Mason Ferber, Ryan Zurbay, Jacob Zurbay, Megan Zurbay, Logan Josephson, Zach Josephson Connor Josephson, Cooper Josephson, Erica Josephson. The concluding service and burial was in the Bellingham Cemetery, Bellingham, Minnesota.
Roger was born on Aug. 21, 1938 in Clarkfield to Herman and Blanche (Peterson) Josephson. He was baptized Oct. 2, 1938 at Westerheim Lutheran Church, northeast of Minneota, and confirmed June 15, 1952 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Minneota.
He attended District 80 Country School from 1944-1948 and graduated from Minneota Public School in 1956. He attended Dunwoody Industrial Institute in 1956 for machinist, before going back to work on the farm. In 1957, he went to M.H. Donald Company, Des Moines, IA for heavy equipment operation training. From there, he worked for K.A. Thompson & Sons Construction of Cottonwood, MN in 1958.
He joined the U.S. Air Force National Guard in 1959 based in Sioux Falls, SD and served for six years. While still in the Air Force National Guard, he started school at North Dakota St. School of Science in Wahpeton, ND in civil engineering technology. On Aug. 29, 1964 Roger was united in marriage to Bernice Brehmer at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Bellingham, MN. After marriage, Roger and Bernice moved from Breckenridge to Hutchinson, where Roger was employed as the Assistant City Engineer.
In 1966, they moved to Madison, MN where he was employed by the Lac Qui Parle County Highway Department. After 31 years, he retired and began to slow down, which meant he didn’t wear a watch, and he was proud of that. To fill time when he wasn’t doing non-stop fixing or projects, he decided to volunteer for Prairie Five Rides, as driving was his passion. This lasted for 16+ years until the mandatory retirement age of 76, driving countless miles throughout the area.
Roger will be remembered for many things: dancing, bowling, card playing, Roger’s Bike Repair, and an unending list of items of which Roger fixed for family and friends. Roger and Bernice were active in church at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Madison and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo.
In later years, Roger & Bernice traveled to many destinations with favorites such as Branson, Hawaii, Spirit Lake, IA, Germany, and an Alaskan cruise to name a few. Roger loved to watch his grandchildren play sports and was always ready with a big hug to all of his kids and grandkids at every family gathering. His smile and wave will always be remembered by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years Bernice, children Amy (Duey) Ferber of New Richland, MN, Tami Zurbay of Brooklyn Park, MN, Mark (Darcy) Josephson of Alexandria, MN, and Kevin (Jennifer) Josephson of Eagan, MN; grandchildren Dalen Ferber, Evan (Brittany Steinhaus) Ferber, Kellen Ferber, Mason Ferber, Ryan (Colby Boman) Zurbay, Jacob Zurbay, Megan Zurbay, Logan Josephson, Zach Josephson, Connor Josephson, Cooper Josephson and Erica Josephson; great grandaughter Olivia Zurbay; brother Byron (Ardie) Josephson; sister’s in-law Ione Brehmer, Marge Roiland and Arlene (John) Pederson; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Herman and Blanche Josephson, parents in-law William and Hilda Brehmer, brother Jim and his wife Helen Josephson, brother-in-law Ralph Brehmer, sister-in-law Annabelle and husband Keith Christensen, and brother-in-law Donald Roiland.
Blessed be his memory.
Arrangements by the Zahrbock Funeral Home, Madison, Minnesota
website: zahrbockfuneralhome.com