Roger Setterberg

Roger Walter Setterberg, 88, of Willmar, died Saturday, March 23rd at Copperleaf Senior Living in Willmar, MN. His funeral service will be 10:00 am, Saturday, March 30th at Assembly of God in Willmar. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm, Friday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to his service at church. Burial with Military Honors will be at Cloverleaf Cemetery in Willmar. www.hafh.org

Roger Walter Setterberg was born June 10, 1935, to Walter and Signe (Johnson) Setterberg in Cokato. He was baptized and confirmed at First Covenant Church in Cokato. He graduated from Cokato High School in 1952. During high school, Roger excelled in football, basketball, track, and baseball. He was the running back and captain of his football team. He would always play better when his future wife, Shirley, was watching. Roger continued his education at Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis for one year before attending Mankato State University where he studied jewelry design and business.

In 1952, Roger enlisted in the US Naval Air Reserve during the Korean War. He continued to serve for eight years. In 1956, Roger married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Douglas. They had three children: Stephen, Carolyn and Deborah.

Roger grew up in a family of jewelers. He worked in his father Walter’s store in Cokato in high school. At a young age Roger knew he wanted to be in the jewelry trades, eventually earning titles of Registered Jeweler, Certified Gemologist, and Certified Appraiser. At the age of 18, Roger was the youngest Certified Watchmaker in the state of Minnesota. In 1957, Setterberg Jewelers was established in Litchfield, MN. They then moved to Salinas, CA in 1963, and in 1965 to downtown Willmar, where he continued to be a jeweler until his retirement in 2018.

Roger was a devoted Christian and was a regular attender at Assembly of God in Willmar. He was a strong witness of Jesus and lived his faith. Roger enjoyed hunting, fishing, sports cars, air shows and going to Freida’s Café in Willmar to visit with friends. He was a loving husband, dad, grandpa and friend. Roger’s warm heart will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and pets.

Roger is survived by his children: Dr. Stephen (Tetiana) Setterberg of Santa Rosa, CA, Carolyn Holm of Willmar, Deborah (David) Bialik of Grand Forks, ND; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Betty Barnes.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Shirley, parents, and siblings: Irving, Wendell, and Mariann Dickinson.

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