Roy Arthur Sudenga

ROY ARTHUR SUDENGA...

was born to Roy Phillip and Jeanette (Symens) Sudenga on April 21, 1937 on a farm near Fulda, Minnesota. As a young boy, he lived on several farms in southwest Minnesota. In 1946, he moved with his family to Woodstock, Minnesota where he attended school. After he completed the eighth grade, he continued his schooling at Pipestone High School in Pipestone, Minnesota. Upon completion of his education, he began working full-time at Sudenga Produce in Woodstock. On October 10, 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served at Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, California. On December 6, 1959, he was united in marriage to Charlotte Shaffer in Reno, Nevada. When he was discharged from the service on October 11, 1960, they returned to Woodstock where Roy became the sole owner of Sudenga Produce. In 1970, he purchased an 80-acre farm near Woodstock. When he sold the store in 2000, he continued to farm his 80 acres. On Saturday, October 3, 2015, Roy died at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 78 years, five months, and 12 days.

Roy was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Pipestone where he served as an elder for several terms. He was also a member of the Herbert Holtke American Legion Post 285 in Lake Wilson, Minnesota. He liked to travel with his wife, and he loved to camp during the summer months at Lake Shetek.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife of nearly 56 years, Charlotte Sudenga of Woodstock, Minnesota; four children, Terrie (Greg) Larson of Tea, South Dakota, Rick Sudenga of Woodstock, Minnesota, Douglas Sudenga of Shakopee, Minnesota, and Renee (Kevin) Johnson of Chancellor, South Dakota; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Arlene Widener of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Delores Sarri of Plano, Texas; two brothers, Donald (Carol) Sudenga of Phoenix, Arizona, and Daryl (Jennie) Sudenga of Sunnyside, Washington; and one sister-in-law, Nita Sudenga of Pipestone, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandson, Justin Larson; his granddaughter, Kelsey Johnson; four sisters, Esther Edwards, Shirley Cash, Marjorie Reitsma, and Barbara Weinand; one brother, Robert Sudenga; and one infant brother, Dale Sudenga.