Roger Goodhart

Roger L. Goodhart, age 88, Browns Valley, MN, passed away Monday, October 7, 2024, in Alexandria, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, October 11, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Browns Valley with Fr. John Paul Knopik officiating.  Music will be provided by Carmen Hills, Sue Sykora, and Stacey Borgheiinck.  Urn bearers will be Roger's grandchildren.

Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Browns Valley.  Military honors will be provided by the William Krensing American Legion Post 58 of Browns Valley.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the church and will continue Friday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Roger Goodhart was born in Browns Valley, MN, on October 19, 1935, to Elizabeth and Ben Goodhart.  Roger was a younger brother to Don, and an older brother to Jack.  The three brothers would spend their lives together, helping to create a culture that is uniquely Browns Valley. Roger attended school in Browns Valley, graduating high school in 1953.  He was drafted into the Army Reserve and was honorably discharged in 1958.  Shortly after, Roger graduated with a teaching degree from Northern State Teachers College.

Roger married Karen Mattson on July 20, 1963.  They made a home in Browns Valley, and in 1975 built their lifetime home on the west-end of Browns Valley.  In 1964, they welcomed their first child, Bob, followed by Jon, Joe and Tom.   As a member of the community, Roger was Mayor and council member, a long-time member of the fire department, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and was one of the original members of the Browns Valley Centennial Band.

Roger began his teaching career in Sioux Falls.  He then joined the staff at Browns Valley Elementary School.  While teaching, Roger also worked with his brothers at Goodhart Brothers Blacksmith Shop.  In 1969, Roger retired from teaching and continued on at the blacksmith shop, where he spent most of his life working with his brothers and his oldest son, all the while entertaining the clientele with his quick wit and animated story telling.  Roger enjoyed selling snowmobiles, ATVs, lawn mowers, tractors, as well as manufacturing various farm equipment.  He also liked to make house calls, driving out to the farm sites to fix whatever needed fixing.  What he liked most was creating humorous stories and carrying out practical jokes with his fellow west-end merchants.  He and his brothers and his friends made their own fun, from home-made convertibles to hair-brained news stories.  His quick wit stayed with him until the end.

After retiring from the blacksmith shop, Roger continued to help Bob as a courier, spent many hours working on projects in his garage, fished with grandkids on Lake Traverse, and kept tabs on things as he drove around the area.

Roger always enjoyed driving.  Whether taking road trips as a kid with his family, or taking his own family on road trips, or just simply making the rounds throughout Browns Valley, Roger loved to drive. On a warm and sunny day on October 7, 2024, Roger had a relaxing and joyful drive to Alexandria with his wife Karen, where she had an eye appointment.  Along the way, Roger and Karen talked and laughed about certain life memories. Shortly after arriving at the appointment, Roger passed away with his loving wife of 61 years by his side, along with support and compassion of the caring staff at Vance Thompson Vision Center, two weeks shy of his 89th birthday.

Roger leaves behind his wife, Karen; his four sons, Bob (Lori), Jon (Kim), Joe (Suong), and Tom; grandchildren, Jackie O'Shea, Niki Fickes, Carly Goodhart, Riley Gerding, Elizabeth Goodhart, Dylan Goodhart, Sam Goodhart and Bailey Goodhart; great-grandchildren, Kai Helgeson, Parker O' Shea, Conner Goodhart, Carter Fickes and Logan Fickes.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Don and Jack; mother and father-in-law, Oscar and Mary Mattson; sisters-in-law, Jeanette Goodhart, Dorothy Goodhart and Mary Ellen Taylor; and brother-in-law, John Mattson.