It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that Roger Ira DeLap of Thief River Falls passed away on Friday, July 8, 2022 at the age of 77 years, after a 2-year journey of battling the ups and downs of pancreatic cancer. He spent his final days in the sunroom of his home in rural TRF where he could watch the birds and see the beauty of the backyard that he worked so hard to maintain over the years. His three daughters and wife surrounded him with much love and tended to all of his needs until he could spread his wings and fly away to his heavenly home.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN, with Rev. Eric Miller officiating. Roger's funeral service may be viewed live at https://studio.youtube.com/video/Eo3-G9-pCPg/livestreaming

Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Monday, July 11, 2022 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN.  Visitation will also take place one hour prior to the funeral service on Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Roger was born on August 29, 1944 at Mercy Hospital in Thief River Falls, the third of five children, to Edward DeLap and Illa (Nicholson) DeLap. Roger was baptized and confirmed at the Community Methodist Church. He attended school in TRF graduating with the Lincoln High School Class of 1962. With sadness he will not be attending his 60 ^th class reunion on August 5 ^th . After attending college at Bemidji State University for three years, in 1966 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During his 4-year career in the Navy he spent time in San Diego, Norfolk, in the Caribbean waterways, a year in Vietnam, and a year traveling around the Mediterranean Sea (where he was part of the first crew onboard the J.F. Kennedy aircraft carrier).  His college education in business landed him a position as the disbursing clerk handling large sums of money to pay the the sailors' monthly stipend. Because everyone loves payday, he always said the guys liked him and he would get special treats from the cooks in the kitchen. He was proud of his military service and has been a member of the American Legion for many years.

On Feb. 8, 1969, just before heading on the Mediterranean cruise with the Navy, he was married to Carol Peterson at Trinity Lutheran Church on an extremely cold winter evening. Upon his completion of his military duty, he returned home and he and Carol moved to Bemidji where Roger completed his Business Administration/Management degree.  Jobs were hard to come by at that time so they ended up moving back to TRF where a few months later he was fortunate to be hired as the new City Finance Officer for TRF. After the retirement of his good friend & co-worker, Jerry Wigness, he later became the City Administrator, serving his community for almost 32 years.  He always said he worked with a wonderful bunch of people and had great respect for his office staff and fellow city workers. Following an early retirement from the City, he worked for 11 years for the Northwest Service Co-op in TRF as their finance director.

Roger loved sports of any kind and played many of them during his lifetime. If there was a ball to be thrown or hit, he was right there to be a part of it. He played pickleball until one year ago and it was a sad day when he could no longer be part of any sport action. He loved to fish and hunt, spending time at the cabin near Lake of the Woods and later at the trailer near Maple Lake, and for 49 years enjoying his home and yard which he and Carol had built up on an acre of field dirt. He could figure out how to fix most everything and always had a running "to do" list. He was very proud of his daughters and loved spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids.

Roger was confirmed in the Lutheran faith and became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church after he and Carol were married.  He faithfully attended worship each week as well as sharing his time and talents with whatever needed to be done. He worked with the youth, taught Sunday School, helped Carol with many education projects, made lefse at the fall bazaar, created and fixed what needed to be done and devoted many years as a sound tech for worship services. He never thought twice about saying "yes" if he was needed. He enjoyed the many friendships he developed through his close relationship with his church.

He will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 53 years, Carol, and his three daughters and their families:  Kari DeLap & David Lehnen of Golden Valley, MN and their children Parker & Sophia; Lisa & Michael Bryant of Blaine, MN and their children Emma & Charlie; Lori & Roy Marshall and their children Nicholas & Andrea Marshall & their children Meah, Brock & Bella and Melissa Marshall and her sons, Marshall & Mabry, all from Fisher, MN. He is also survived by his siblings Gordon DeLap (Carole Beedy) and Janet Griffith of TRF; Paula DeLap (Terese LaLomia) of Mpls.; and sister-in-law Jeanie DeLap of Bismarck, ND; and several nieces and nephews. He also treasured his relationships with the Peterson family.

Preceding him in his death are his parents, Edward & Illa DeLap; his brother, Kenneth DeLap; and brother-in-law, Tony Griffith. May God Bless his memory.