Roger Charles Totman

November 28, 1946–March 31, 2024
Roger graduated from Winthrop High School in 1964. He earned his business administration degree from Mankato State University in 1971. He attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He married Monica Ann Espenson on December 18, 1971. They were blessed with three children: Melissa, Daniel, and Philip (1983-1984). They served with the Evangelical Free Church of America (ReachGlobal) for 38 years (18 years in Japan and 20 years as Asia Area Business Manager). Roger retired to Minnetrista, MN, in 2012 and was a member of Mound Evangelical Free Church. He was survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Monica Totman, daughter Melissa (Paul Jr) Springer, son Daniel (Heather) Totman, and grandchildren Paul III, Jacob, Emily and Isabella Springer, and Bethany, April, and Natalie Totman. He was preceeded in death by parents, Harold and Emily Totman, brother Harvey (LaAnna) Totman, sister Kathleen Totman, son Philip Totman.
Roger was born on November 28, 1946. He was raised in a church-going family. At confirmation, he was given a Bible, which he promised to read daily. He took that promise seriously, reading it almost every night. He soon realized two things: he couldn't keep God's commandments and feared God's punishment.
After graduating from college and starting his first job, Roger clearly heard the gospel message from a substitute preacher in his church. The pastor shared that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners, bearing God's wrath in our place and making forgiveness and hope possible. Roger left the church crying for joy and was born again!
Shortly after he became a new Christian, his number came up for the Vietnam draft. He chose to enlist in the army, hoping to secure a place in the finance corps, which he did. Most of his group was sent to Vietnam, but he was sent to Korea. He continued to read the Bible daily and grew by the questions men in his barracks asked. He was blessed to see a buddy become a Christian. While in Korea, he also befriended a Korean seminary student and visited a Korean church, widening his worldview and making a huge impact on his view of worship. After leaving the military, Roger graduated from Mankato State University in 1971 with a degree in business administration.
Monica and Roger met on the way to the Urbana Missions Convention in 1970 and were married in December of 1971. Their first adventure together was to buy a variety store in Fairfax, MN. They also joined a local Evangelical Free Church. Through missionaries visiting their church and the encouragement of the pastor, they were challenged to serve as Evangelical Free Church missionaries. Following a year at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, IL) and the birth of their daughter Melissa, Roger and Monica arrived in Japan on September 1, 1977.
During their first years of Japanese language study, a Japanese church was started in their living room. This was a great motivation for learning the language quickly; church members met for Bible study, cooked church meals in their kitchen, and tried to converse with them most days of the week. Roger was the business manager for the Japan Evangelical Free Church Mission and teamed with various Japanese pastors in church planting for 18 years. Roger and Monica were the Tokyo Mission Center hospitality host/hostess and provided orientation to new missionaries. Two sons were born in Tokyo: Daniel (1979) and Philip (1983-1984).
After Melissa graduated from high school and returned to the United States for college, the family moved to Singapore where Roger began serving as Asia Area Business Manager for ReachGlobal ministries in eight Asian countries. Roger retired from ReachGlobal in 2012.
At the age of 72, Roger suffered four collapsed vertebrae caused by advanced osteoporosis. Parkinson's disease also caused his muscles to weaken, eventually causing him to be nonambulatory. On March 31, 2024, Roger was freed from his earthly body and experienced instant healing: walking, running, and kneeling before God as he had wanted to do for so long.