Roger Lea Thor

Roger was born to his parents Robert and Ella Jo (Cottingham) Thor on March 29, 1946, in Tacoma, Washington. He lived in Auburn, Washington, throughout his growing up years.

Roger attended Terminal Park Elementary School, Olympic Jr. High School, and Auburn Senior High School, where he graduated in 1964. One of his biggest joys during these years was his affiliation with Edward James Chapter, Order of DeMolay, where he was Master Councilor in 1963.

Roger was a graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in Food Science and Engineering. He was a PROUD Husky.

After college Roger worked a short while at the Cudahy/Bar-S Meat Company followed by a long career as Plant Manager at Cossack Caviar, Inc. He left Cossack in 1986 to start his own electrical construction company, R. Thor Electric, which he owned and operated for 7 years. After closing the company, he went on to work for several other Building and Electrical Construction companies. He ended his career as Director of Engineering at the Masonic Retirement Center in Des Moines, Washington, before retiring in 2002.

Roger also worked as a professional ski instructor and supervisor for Cascade Ski School. For 30 years he taught all level of ski instruction, from beginner to expert, at Snoqualmie Summit and Crystal Mountain. He particularly enjoyed teaching racing. He himself won many gold medals racing NASTAR at Snoqualmie over the years.

It was at the mountain that he met his future wife, Jan in December of 1974. Jan was taking ski lesions on that fateful day, and Roger was working new instructor hiring clinics for Cascade when they met in the ski lodge. Roger and Jan were united in marriage on February 19, 1977, and enjoyed just shy of 49 years of marriage together.

Roger's Masonic life was very important to him. He was a 60-year member of King Solomon Lodge in Auburn and was also a member of Frank S. Land Lodge in Des Moines. At King Solomon he served on and chaired many committees over the years, including the college scholarship committee, the fundraising committee, the golf tournament committee, and more. He also served on the Grand Lodge arrangements committee. He PRODLY served as King Solomon's Worshipful Master in 1998. One of his biggest joys was being Santa at King Solomon's Christmas parties, which he did for many years. He was a member of Scottish Rite, the Shrine First Section, and Cyclamen Chapter, Order of Eastern Star.

Roger was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to fish, hunt, and ski. He enjoyed boating, canoeing, camping, beachcombing, and stargazing–anything outdoors, really. He also loved gardening, woodworking, photography, and beekeeping. He enjoyed attending musical theatre and symphony performances. He was a Husky Football season tickets holder for 48 years enjoying games at Husky Stadium, and traveling to 5 Rose Bowls and an Orange Bowl to watch his Dawgs compete. He enjoyed loading shotgun shells and tying fishing flies. His happy places were any trout-filled lake on opening day, any fly-fishing river in the Spring, being in a duck blind or a pheasant filled corn field in the Fall, walking the shores of Long Beach at dawn and at sunset, and skiing on a cold sunny late Winter Day. His hunting dogs Buddy and Riley were his loyal retrievers and hunting partners, and Grady (although not a hunter) was his constant companion and best friend.

Roger died on January 21, 2026, leaving behind his wife Jan, brother Gary (and his wife Jennifer), niece Kerry Thor, and nephews Chris (and his wife Amber), and Andy (and his wife Mary) Thor, as well as 3 great nieces, Abigal, Luella, and Liana. Also, Sister-In-Law Linda Oviatt, and nieces Toni Candiello and Tammy (and her husband Glen) Hand. He also leaves behind many extended relatives and lots of very good friends.

He had a joyful spirit and a quiet strength. He was the kind of person who brought light, warmth, and joy to every room. He was a man whose generosity of spirit touched all who knew him.

Roger will be sorely missed, but forever remembered for his welcoming smile, firm handshake, fun-loving and outgoing personality, sly sense of humor, and his diligent work ethic, generosity, compassion, and love of life!

Donations in Roger's name may be made to:

Auburn Valley Humane Society

Philanthropy/Auburn Valley Humane Society
PO Box 1911
Auburn, WA 98071
To Give by Phone
Call Auburn Valley Humane Society at (253) 409-1503.

Seattle Children's Hospital

Commemorative Giving
Seattle Children's Foundation
M/S 818-FPO, PO Box 5371
Seattle, WA 98145-5005
To Give by Phone
Call Seatle Children's Hospital at 206-987-4844.