Roger Hall

Funeral Services: Will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Massena with burial in the Massena Center Cemetery, north of Massena. Pastor David Clark will officiate the service. A luncheon will be held at the church following the burial.   

Open Visitation: Will be held on Friday at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Friday, July 12th, at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Memorials: To the Roger Hall Memorial Fund to be established by the family.

Roger Floyd Hall was born March 23, 1936 in Boulder, Colorado to Floyd " Chuck" and Donna Blanche (Pace) Hall. The Hall family moved back to Massena in 1942. Roger started his formal education at six years of age at the country school south of Cumberland. He attended Massena High School, where he played baseball and basketball. Roger graduated in 1954 and served in the U.S. Air Force.

On October 13, 1954 Roger was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Shirley Follmann, at the Massena Methodist Church. The couple's first date was the prom when they were sophomore banquet servers. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Michael William, Richard Roger, and Nancy Carol.

Roger worked for Stanley Well Company for two years before purchasing a well digging machine with his partner, Melvin Herrick. In 1957 he got the chance to pursue his dream of becoming a farmer by renting a small farm. As he expanded his farming operation with more rented ground, Roger also took a job at Sulgrove Implement in Bridgewater doing inventory. Later he worked part-time for the ASCS office measuring fields.

His father and father-in-law were instrumental in helping Roger achieve his career ambition of becoming a full-time farmer. In 1962 he and Shirley purchased their own farm south of Massena where they established their home. Roger was honored with both the Cass County Young Farmer and the Farm Bureau Young Farmer awards.

Committed to helping start his sons in agriculture, Roger took off-farm employment as the boys assumed more of the farming responsibilities. After working as a part-time hail adjuster for Grinnell Mutual he accepted a full-time job as an adjuster for Adair County Farm Mutual. He enjoyed getting to meet farmers from the area and put his agricultural knowledge to work in the sales department at McCunn Equip Co. Roger purchased the very first JD500 large round baler in Iowa.

An entrepreneur at heart, Roger purchased the Dale Dwyer Insurance agency. Even after selling the business, he remained connected with the insurance industry by serving on the Board of Directors of Adair County Farm Mutual until his death.

Roger was able to devote his full attention to his lifetime passion of farming after selling the insurance business. He farmed full-time with his son, Michael, until 2010 when he began to phase out his involvement and welcomed his grandson, Cale into the farming operation. Roger continued living on the home place southeast of Massena and was the "go-for" for the operation, spending his time spraying weeds, cutting thistles ,checking cows, and running errands.

An active community member, Roger was a director for Farmers Saving Bank. He served as secretary for the Massena Little Britches Rodeo Association and was a charter member of Massena Lions Club. As a member of the Cass County Cattlemen, Roger especially enjoyed their trips. He was active in the Bridgewater Betterment Club and an investor in the Bridgewater Cafe. A life long member of the Methodist Church, Roger had a strong Christian faith.

A sportsman, Roger liked to fish and hunt. He hosted many deer and pheasant hunters on his property. He also played baseball well past high school and enjoyed playing catch with his great-grand children until his death.

Roger loved his family and took great joy in watching all seven of his grandchildren as they participated in activities at Cumberland-Massena high school. He had the chance to gently cradle each of his great-grandchildren in his arms in the first day of their life. His great-grandchildren gave him many hours of pleasure.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shirley and their children Michael and wife, Jeanette, Rich and wife Deb, and Nancy and husband, Randy McCunn all of Massena; his seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren: Jeremy (Jess) Hall and Laila of Fontanelle; Leah (Jon) Byriel and Caia and Logan of Madrid; Cale (Vana) Hall and Trig of Bridgewater; Jane (John) Chaillie and Pace and Anna of Griswold; Jessica (Jake) Stiens and Grace and Gavin of Maryville; Jennifer (Wes) Anstey and Calen and Kenlee of Atlantic; and Rylan McCunn and special friend Ashley. He is also survived by a sister, Allene and husband Warren Roberts of Phoenix, a brother, Jerry and wife Nancy of Ames, and brother-in-laws Jim Follmann and wife Barb of Massena, and Dan Follmann and wife Janice of Atlantic. He was preceded in death by his parents Chuck and Blanche Hall and Shirley's parents Ralph and Delores Follmann.