Richard Roghair
Richard “RJ” John Roghair passed away early Friday morning, Oct. 18, 2024, in the South Dakota Veterans Home in Hot Springs, S.D. He was 83.
A 10-year resident of Custer, S.D., Richard was born in Okaton, S.D., on Jan. 18, 1941, to Jacob and Grace Roghair.
Richard was a Veteran of the Navy with 30 years of service, enlisting the day after his 21st birthday and retiring in 1993. Richard was a communications system tech control supervisor and communications system manager.
Richard received his fifth Good Conduct Award on April 28, 1985. He also received a Navy Expeditionary Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal , and the Sea Service Medal during his career in the Navy.
His tour of duties, with his family, took him to Northwest Cape, Australia, where his oldest daughter was born and Keflavik, Iceland, where his younger daughter was born. He served in Izmir, Türkiye, Rota, Spain and a second tour in Iceland again with his family. In addition, he served on a number of ships, including an ocean-going tugboat.
After Richard retired from the Navy he was employed at EDO Corporation, in Chesapeake, Va., retiring a second time after about 13 years.
Visitation will be Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. with the service following at 10 a.m. The funeral service will be held at McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer, located at 234 N. Street.
Retired Minister James Roghair (a cousin of Richard) will officiate. Pallbearers will be grandsons Joshua and Zach Tainowitz, great grandsons Noah and Jonah Tainowitz, Elijah Esterday and Jacob Hubert. Burial will take place in the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D., at 2 p.m. the same day.
Richard’s hobby was photography, which he really enjoyed so he was always behind the camera instead of in front of it. We have lots of pictures but few of RJ.
Richard was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; and two siblings, brother Melvin and sister Alice.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Violet; two daughters, Jackie (Billy) Singer and Teresa (Paul) Requejo; five grandchildren; eight great- grandchildren; two brothers, Lawrence and Jerry; and two sisters, Lorrine and Lois.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.