Roger French, 74, of Brookings, passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at his residence surrounded by his loving family following a courageous battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at Eidsness Funeral Home beginning at 2:00 P.M. Family and friends are invited to share in a time of fellowship at Eidsness Funeral Home following the service. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, beginning at 1:00 P.M. Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the French family with arrangements.

Roger Eugene French was born on June 20, 1948, in Huron, SD, the son of Leslie and Dorothy (Galliger) French.

Roger grew up in Bonilla, SD where he attended and was baptized at the Presbyterian Church. He graduated high school in 1966 at Hitchcock, SD. Roger was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Margie Saugstad. Roger attended and graduated college from Lakeland Medical Academy in Minneapolis, MN in 1968 with a laboratory and radiology degree. Roger went on to continue his education, taking college courses at Mount Marty branch in Watertown, SD and South Dakota State University in Brookings. SD.

Roger and Margie settled in Madison, MN where Roger worked at the local hospital. During the years in Madison, MN they were blessed with two children, Todd and Tamara. In 1975, they moved to Lake Preston, SD where Roger worked in laboratory and X-Ray departments at the local health care facility, he also was an EMT and was involved in other community services. They were blessed with another daughter Terri who completed their family.

Roger and Margie enjoyed living at their lake home on Lake Poinsett and also enjoyed spending their winters in Sun City West, AZ.

Roger retired in 2015, from Windom, MN Area Hospital. Retirement brought many more years of fun from hosting family and friends, experiencing what Arizona offers, to clock collecting, to making garden beds and tinkering in the garage. But most of all Roger loved sharing time, with his 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Roger is survived by his wife, Margie French, of Brookings; children: Todd French, of Minneota, MN, Tamara Rempfer-Brown, of Humbolt, SD, and Terri (Jason) Deming, of Brookings, SD; grandchildren: Jackie (Alex) Rempfer, Eric (Kate) Rempfer, Braden French, Kailen French, Chase Brown, Tori Deming, Joshua Deming, and Jacob Deming; 3 great-grandchildren; and siblings: Gary French (friend Marla) and Kathy and Allen Twist, Becky French, Lodema and Everett Randall, Rita Saugstad and Bruce Kosen, Eldon Saugstad, Norm Saugstad, Cleo and Ron Voeller and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law, Edwin and Mary Saugstad; brothers, Ronald and James French; sister-in-law, Donna French and Bonnie French; and brother-in-law, Elwyn Saugstad.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are preferred to the Prayers and Squares Ministry:

Avera McKennan Hospital
ATTN: Prayers and Squares Chapter 954
800 East 21st Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57110