Rest in Peace Grandma

This is old news to many, but still fresh in my heart. It is one of a million reasons why it is so hard living away. My Beloved Grandma passed away suddenly on May 20th at the age of 87. I have so many memories of her growing up and will miss her terribly! Her birthday is the day after mine and some of the best memories involve celebrating our birthdays together every year. Even if there was distance between us, we always talked and celebrated over the phone. Here are some pics from many years past.

I had to quickly rummage through our photos before the movers came, but also came across this one of us and her late husband, my grandfather, Jack.

I will miss the sleep-overs. My cousin, Kylie, and I would visit for either a weekend or for a full week each year growing up. We would give each other makeovers--grandma included (where I first discovered the combo hairdryer/curling iron), climb trees, walk or bike up to the 5 and dime or grocery store, bake cookies....what memories. I heart her "eccentric" tastes whether it be her plug in fireplace that made some sound that was supposed to resemble the sound of a fire but fell miserably short, the ceramic goose that stood guard on her front stoop adorned with the appropriate seasonal attire, among many others. Love you Grandma!!

Here is the text from her obituary in the Mankato Free Press

Velma Rogers

MADELIA — Velma L. (Feder) Rogers, age 87, of Madelia, MN died on Thursday, May 20th, 2010 at the Madelia Community Hospital.

Visitation will be held on Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Pilgrim Funeral Home in Madelia and will continue on Monday for one hour prior to the time of the service at the church. Funeral services will be held Monday, May 24, 2010, at 1 p.m. at the Church of Christ in Madelia with the Rev. Allen Burnham officiating. Casket bearers will be children Shari Roemhildt, Bill Feder, Terry Feder, and grandchildren Nathanial Feder, Jon Roemhildt and Scott Roemhildt. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Madelia. Arrangements are with the Pilgrim Funeral Home in Madelia.

Velma L. Cunningham was born Dec. 28, 1922, to George & Octa (Butcher) Cunningham in Letcher, SD. She was the fourth of five children. The family moved from Artesian, S.D., to rural Madelia in 1934, and Velma (Cunningham) graduated from Madelia High School in 1940. In 1941, she married William Feder and they had four children. She helped run a television store and operated Feder’s Mobile Village mobile home park in Madelia. She also worked many years for LaSalle Farmers Grain fertilizer plant. In 1988, Velma married Ken “Jack” Rogers and they were together until his death in 1994.

Her children include Shari Roemhildt (Errol) of Owatonna, Bill Feder (Judy) of Mankato, Terry Feder (Linda) of Struble, IA and Larry Feder (Lynda). Larry is now in Heaven. She also has five stepchildren, Ramona Bjork (Delano) of Embarrass, MN, Beverley Murphy (Richard) of Kissimmee, FL, Laura O’Hara (Michael) of Pleasant Hill, CA, Susan Rogers (Anne) of Golden Valley and Cynthia Barton of Roanoke, TX. She has 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren and sister, Jeanne Brown of St. James. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jack, son Larry, brothers Robert and J.T. Cunningham, sister Minnie Sprague, their spouses and many other relatives.