Volney Duane (“Von”) Rogers was born November 27, 1937, to Milton H. and Agnes E. (Bakke) Rogers in Vancouver, Washington.
Von was a member of the Meadow Glade Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church. He attended Adventist schools in Washington, Montana, and Oregon, and graduated in 1957 from Upper Columbia Academy in Spangle, Washington. He attended Oregon Polytechnic, Clark College, and auction college in Billings, Montana.
In 1958, Von married Judy Cox in a double wedding with Judy’s sister and her brother-in-law. The wedding was held at the Meadow Glade SDA Church, with a cake and punch reception following.
Von loved mechanical things and had a knack for them — cars, boats, motorcycles, snow mobiles, and airplanes — and had a collection of them from over the years.
Von worked hard and played hard. He commercial fished in Alaska for 23 years, piloting his new boat from Washington to Bristol Bay, above the Aleutian chain. He also possessed a pilot’s license, flying his own plane to the fishing grounds, to the East Coast, and to the border of Guatemala. When not at home, Von could be found away on an adventure — many motorcycle trips through various states, including as far away as Arkansas, or snowmobiling to Canada and through Yellowstone National Park. The home-away-from home RV always towed a trailer with toys or a Jeep behind it, ready for a new experience.
Von enjoyed spending time with family and friends at their cabin on Deka Lake. His favorite activities there were fishing, boating, water skiing, canoeing, and playing Rook. Observing and enjoying the visits of wildlife such as bear, moose, cougar, deer and a variety of birds was also a relaxing pastime of his at the cabin.
Von’s working days were spent at Lightey Mill, Rhodes Refrigeration, Northwest Motor Welding, and Columbia Auction. In addition to fishing every year, he owned his own business, the Bargain Center, which he later sold to his son when he retired. In retirement, Von’s sense of adventure took him traveling to 13 countries, to many places in the U.S., and as far as Africa on mission trips building schools and churches with SAGE (Seniors in Action for God with Excellence), an Adventist ministry organization.
On May 31, 2021, after several years of declining health, Von passed away from pulmonary disease at age 84, at home with his wife of 63 years by his side.
Von is survived by his wife, Judy; son, Kelly; and daughter, April (Ken) Rogers; granddaughters, Kami (Johnny) Vargas and Nicolette (Austin) Powell; grandsons, Landon (Emily) Rogers and Trenton (Karen) Rogers; a new great granddaughter, Charlotte Rogers; and brothers Harold and Charles. He was preceded in death by his father, Milton; mother, Agnes; step-mother, Margaret; and two nephews, Daniel and Mark Rogers.
A graveside service was held on June 4, 2021, at Brush Prairie, Washington.
Von will be deeply missed by his family, extended family, friends, and all who knew him.
