Roger Hegdahl

Roger Hegdahl, 69, of Dallas, passed away Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

A Celebration of Life tribute will be held later this spring in Madison.

Roger Hegdahl was a big guy, a sweet man, and a great husband. He was born Aug. 23, 1954, in rural South Dakota, one of four sons of Newton and Viola Hegdahl. Roger grew up on the farm and remarkably re-invented himself from a teenager in a rural farm in South Dakota, to an oil field executive in Texas.

Roger was great with machines and anything mechanical. He never met a car he didn't love, always checking out car shows for that next prize. At points in his life, he'd sometimes have as many as a dozen cars in various phases of restoration - rebuilding engines, replacing brakes or shocks, or sending them out for re-upholstery or for a new paint job. Roger had a good eye for cars. He loved E-type Jags, and had a 1969 E-type Jag with a 3.8 straight six, and one with a V-12. He had a Sunbeam Tiger, an Oldsmobile Starfire - the first car where he and Donna dated - a 911-Porsche, a Corvette, and an AC cobra replica. And he loved his big trucks, too.

But the real love of his life was Donna Berglund, a blond, blue-eyed cheerleader for the Montrose High School football and basketball teams. Roger was from another town, and it was a pretty bold move to approach a cheerleader from Montrose. But it was meant to be! They started dating as teenagers, and when Donna and Roger graduated from high school, Donna headed to college in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Roger decided to move there as well. He worked for a few years, then started college, too. They were married in June of 1975, and celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary last June! On their anniversary, Roger always sent Donna one rose for each year they were married! If you count the years since they started dating, Donna and Roger were together nearly 55 years!

Roger's hard work and accomplishments secured the interest of one company president who recommended him for an exciting role at a partner company in Texas. Donna and Roger spent the next 20+ years enjoying all Texas had to offer. Roger loved his houses outside of Houston, and had two different homes situated on a lake, with boats and jet skis, and with Jade and Elvis - his pet peacocks - to tame the snake population.

Roger retired 10 years ago as a result of deteriorating health. Roger and Donna loved taking care of their private backyard garden, koi pond and pool, reading the paper on the patio and caring for all of their kitties. Over the past several years, both Roger and Donna worked to improve Roger's health. Unfortunately, Roger lost the valiant battle last Sunday night, with Donna by his side.

Roger is survived by his wife of 48 years, Donna Hegdahl. Roger is also survived by his brother, Burnie Hegdahl, wife Linda and nieces Angella (Kristian), Auggie, and Lori (Matt). He was preceded in death by his Father, Newton, Mother Viola, stepmother Martha and brothers Doug (Sam) and Ron and nephew Scott and niece Lindsey. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Irving Animal Shelter or Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Irving.