Enid Hanson Rogers
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Enid Hanson Rogers, 81, of Seneca, SD, died, Sunday, March 14, 2021 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. following an unrelenting, lifelong journey of kindness.
Enid Arlene Hanson was born in Aberdeen, SD on April 28, 1939 to Ralph and Grace (Huetson) Hanson. She and her older and favorite brother, Craig grew up in rural Faulk county where they attended country schools and routinely rode horses to school. Enid graduated from Faulkton High School with the class of 1957. Following high school, she went to college at Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen. While at Northern, she met her future husband, soulmate and best friend, Verle Rogers. They were married on August 14, 1960 in Faulkton, SD. Upon graduation, she started her 47-year career in the education and development of children. She spent eight years teaching in Mellette, SD prior to teaching in Woonsocket, SD, Cavour, SD, Akron, IA and Tulare, SD. In 1976, Enid started working for the Northeast South Dakota Head Start program. It turned into a 32-year mission for the advancement of underprivileged children. She served in the capacity of the executive director for most of those years. At the time of her death, Enid was the at-large representative to the Northeast Mental Health Center's Board of Directors and had been for several years. She had also served as the State President for South Dakota Easter Seals Society.
In her retirement years, Enid enjoyed going for drives. The length of these drives was usually determined by the length of the audio book in which she was dangerously engrossed. Her road trips quite frequently included stops at one of the several casinos in the area. The Lode Star in Fort Thompson was her favorite. When she was at home, most of her time was spent communicating on Facebook and watching MSNBC.
Throughout her life, Enid overcame several obstacles, including polio, cancer, three children and being a democrat in South Dakota. At the age of 25 she was stricken with polio and at the age of 38 she successfully battled cancer. In 1995 her husband had a major stroke and she was his caregiver for nine years until his death on January 29, 2004. Every hurdle was cleared with exceptional grace, attitude and perseverance.
Grateful for having shared in Enid's life are her children, D'Andra Rogers of Mitchell, SD, Dirk (Jennifer) Rogers of Groton, SD and Devin (Lisa) Rogers of Rapid City, SD; five grandchildren, Sadie (Alex Frasier) Rogers of Aberdeen, Truitt Rogers of Groton, Delane Rogers of Rapid City, Indigo Rogers of Sioux Falls, SD and Dorian Swanson of Rapid City; one brother, Craig (Adele) Hanson of Houston, TX; three nieces, Debbie (Larry) Quinney, Joni (Dave) Kachelhoffer and Dena (John) Bean; three nephews, Scott (Marlis) Hanson, Mark (Theresa) Falk and Jeff (Wendy) Hanson. Enid's family will be forever grateful to her very special friends, Val McGinnis, Tim Davis and Donnie Lichty. Their sincere friendship and dedication allowed Enid to live out her life at Latham Lake.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother-in-law, Clifford Falk; sisters-in-law, Donna Falk and Rita Hanson.
A celebration of Enid's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at her home at Latham Lake (33712 164th Street Seneca, SD 57473).
In lieu of flowers and memorials, perform a random act of kindness in Enid's memory.
Arrangements are with Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City, SD. www.kirkfuneralhome.com