Roger Paul Caton, 83, of Florence, SD, and recently of Lake Havasu City, AZ, died peacefully on Saturday, January 14, 2012, at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown, SD.  A memorial service will be held at the Carleton College Chapel in Northfield, MN, at a future date.

Arrangements are being handled by the Crawford Funeral Chapel of Watertown, SD.

He was born at home on January 15, 1928, in Iowa Falls, IA, the son of Matthew and Mable (German) Caton.  He grew up in Iowa Falls where he attended school and graduated in 1947.  Roger enjoyed working on his Uncle Edmond Caton’s farm during the summer months.  After graduation, he worked with his father doing carpentry jobs in the Iowa Falls area. 

Roger married Joanne Lowery on July 8, 1950, in Pope Joy, IA.  They made their home there for approximately a year while Roger worked with his father doing carpentry.  In 1951, they moved to Des Moines, IA, where he worked for Wonder Bread before taking a position with General Motors.  During this time he started his own hauling business in the Des Moines area and then sold it in 1964. Roger moved his family to a small farm in Indianola, IA.  He continued to work at General Motors during the week and worked on his farm in his spare time.  Roger brought his father to live with them on the farm.  Many happy days were spent on the farm, enjoying the many activities this lifestyle provided.  He was transferred with General Motors to Minneapolis, MN, in 1968.  Roger then moved his family to Prior Lake, MN, before moving to Northfield, MN, where they lived until his retirement in 1982.  Following his retirement, he moved to Webster, SD, and worked for his son-in-law’s John Deere Implement Dealership for approximately one year.  They moved to Lake Havasu, AZ, in 1983, and resided there until his wife’s passing in December of 2008.  Roger enjoyed working part-time jobs during his retirement to stay active.  He was always happier when out of doors, as he enjoyed sitting in his lawn chair and taking walks in the desert with his fellow club members.  Roger enjoyed life and kept everyone smiling with his quick wit and dry humor.  In July of 2009, he moved back to South Dakota and resided at the Countryview Assisted Living in Florence until his death on January 14, 2012.

He was a member of Our Lady Catholic Church in Lake Havasu, AZ.

Roger is survived by two sons, Steven (Susan) Caton of Northfield, MN, and Douglas Caton of Long Beach, CA; two daughters, Linda (Terry) Sampson of Watertown, SD, and Rebecca (Jon) Nordstrom of Shakopee, MN; 15 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and one sister, Janice Caton Good, of Waterloo, IA. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joanne; his parents; and one grandson, Timothy Carel.