Roger LeRoy Borgmann, fourth child of Fred and Anna (Hermanns) Borgmann was born on Easter Monday, April 6, 1931, at the family farm southwest of Athol, Kansas. Roger passed away Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Smith County Memorial Hospital at the age of 94.
Roger was baptized on April 26, 1931, at the St. John Lutheran Church, Athol, where he was also confirmed on May 20, 1945. He attended grade school at Silver Ridge School, located half mile south of the family’s farm and graduated from Smith Center High School in 1948.
After high school he became involved with the family’s farming operation. In May of 1951, at a cousin’s wedding (LaVoe Hermanns Zabel) he was introduced to his future wife, Stella Rahjes, and it was “love at first sight”. In September 1951, he was inducted into the Marine Corps where he served for two years. On June 11, 1954, he and Stella were married at the St. John Lutheran Church in Kensington, KS.
Three daughters were born to this union, twins, Linda and Lucinda on June 22, 1955, and Rhonda, June 3, 1956.
They lived on two rented farms, one, south and east of Kensington and the other, two miles south and one half east of the St. John Lutheran Church, Athol. Then in 1963, they purchased the farm one fourth mile east of the church from their Uncle Lawrence Borgmann. They were the third generation of Borgmanns to live on that farm. In 1996 they sold the farm and moved to Smith Center to retire after 42 years of farming. Thirty-seven of those years were in the dairy business. Roger enjoyed farming and working with livestock and the work responsibilities were shared with his wife, Stella.
Roger was a lifelong active member of St. John Lutheran Church, Athol and served on Church Council for 3 terms, was Sunday School Superintendent for 2 terms, sang in the Men’s Choir for many years and was Sexton.
He served on the Athol Co-op board and the Smith County Rural Water District board. After retiring from the dairy business, he helped Lee Oliver with his Auction Business, a relationship that turned into one of very good friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Stella, an infant brother Milford, sister Lois and brother-in-law Don Keller, brother Orville and sister-in-law Beverly and son-in-law Henry Ring.
Roger is survived by daughters, Linda Peterson (Dennis) of Salina, KS, Lucinda Ring (Tim) of Augusta, KS and Rhonda Wright ( Jon) of Lincoln, KS; grandkids Travis (Jayme) Peterson, Leslie Ring, Andrea Ring, Brian Ring (Jessie), Jonna Wright (Cody), Katie Graham (Nathaniel); great grandchildren Tanner & Tucker Peterson, Kiara, Tyrice, Sier Ring, Nash, Colt & Kace Ring, Tayten & Paislee Graham; great-great grandson Marcel Ring and adopted son Lee Oliver.
Roger was a very good man, a very good dad! He always thought of the other person first. He helped people in many ways, sending them cards, visiting people, making phone calls and giving rides to church.