Roger Edward Hedensten, age 77, formerly of Freeborn, passed away on Sunday, March 13, 2005, at his home in Albert Lea.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at the Freeborn Congregational United Church of Christ in Freeborn, with the Rev. Cherie Daniel officiating. Visitation will be held at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells today, March 15, from 4 to 8 p.m., and one hour prior to services at church on Wednesday.

Interment will be in Freeborn Cemetery in Freeborn.

Roger was born on Jan. 9, 1928, the son of Edward and Agnes (Christiansen) Hedensten in Albert Lea. He graduated from Freeborn High School in 1945 and then went into the army. He worked for Queens Stove in Albert Lea and then Marpes Garage in Freeborn. He went into business with Larry Butenhoff and later in business for himself running a garage and service station. He retired in the spring of 1992. Roger married Marilyn Reardon on June 13, 1954. She passed away in 1988. On Aug. 10, 1991, he married Velma &uot;Vel&uot; Ross from Pella, Iowa. Roger loved his family very much.

He loved gardening, playing cards, bowling, coin collecting and Scottish music. He was on the Freeborn Fire Department for 38 years, a member of the American Legion, and Freeborn Congregational United Church of Christ in Freeborn. He enjoyed his trips to Arkansas and Joplin, Mo., to see David; they had a very special bond. Looked forward to visits with Eric Redman as they both enjoyed coins. Enjoyed trips made with Rhoni and Samantha. Roger put up a good fight against his illness until he could go no further in life. Special friends in his life: Brian and Deb O’Plotnik, Aaron and Jamie Peters and family, and Dr. Barney and Jene Short, all of Joplin; Deb and Dan Ward of Eureka Springs, Ark.; Hans and Judy Jensen, Mark and Linda Bakken, and Dolores VanRyswyck and family.

He will be sadly missed by all who were fortunate to be a part of this dear person’s life. God bless his memory.

Survivors include his wife, Vel Hedensten of Albert Lea; daughter, Valarie and her husband Steve Seipp of Freeborn; two sons: Dale Hedensten and Craig Hedensten of Freeborn; his step-children: Steve Ross of Pella, Iowa, Susan Ury of Des Moines, Iowa, and David Ross of Joplin, Mo.; two grandchildren: Jason Hedensten and Samantha Seipp; great-grandson,

Josiah Hedensten; six step-grandchildren:

Stephanie Seipp, Bryan, Allen and Scott Brendeland, and Andrew and Katie Ross; one step-great-grandchild, Rhoni Larson; three sisters: Delight and her husband Keith Redman of Freeborn, Colleen and her husband Jake Stenzel of Wells, and Vernell and her husband Berdell Miller of Freeborn; sister-in-law,

Bertha Busch of Waverly, Iowa; brother-in-law, Tom Reardon of Minneapolis; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marilyn Hedensten; brothers-in-law: Don Reardon and Lester Busch; and mother-in-law,

Charlotte and husband Curtis Hesby.