Roger Van Jeffers (St. John)

March 8, 1962 - July 8, 2024

Memorial Services for Roger Van Jeffers, 62, of Minneapolis, MN will be held on Sunday July 14, 2024 @ 3:00 P.M. at Heipa/Veblen District Center, Veblen, SD. Officiating will be: Pastor Vern Donnell, Urn bearer: Kirk Adams Honorary Urn bearers: All of his nieces & nephews. There will be an All-Night Wake service on Saturday, July 13th, 2024, starting @ 7:00 P.M. at the Heipa/Veblen District Center. Inurnment will be in the St. Mattews Catholic Cemetery, Veblen, SD. Cahill Funeral Home, Sisseton, SD is overseeing all arrangements.

Roger was a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, and most specifically a Heipa District member. He was very proud of being a Dakota. Roger was one of four brothers that were adopted at a young age. He grew up in Stoney Brook, Long Island. He attended Shoreham-Wading River High School Long Island, NY. Roger was a proud Native American Veteran; he served in the U.S. Army from 1982 stationed in Ft. Leonard Wood, KS until his honorable discharge in 1983. He was united in marriage on September 26th, 1987, to June Ellen Schaub. This union blessed Roger with his three sons, whom he loved completely. Roger returned to Minneapolis in 1992 to reunite with his beloved mother and his 12 other siblings there. Roger received his CDL in the service. He was very proud of that and would state the fact that he, "had all the endorsements for a CDL" meaning he could drive everything. He loved being a truck driver and continued to do what he loved for many years with different companies. When he returned to Minneapolis, he worked for 7 Up Co. making local deliveries for many years. In 2010 Roger was diagnosed with 4th stage Bladder Cancer and was given 5 years to live. He began his fight to survive always saying "I don't know what else to do but fight". He remained in remission for 14 years before he went on his journey home. He never settled for settling in life. He'd exhaust all possibilities of good, bad, up, or down just to have experienced all the capacities life had to offer.

Roger enjoyed traveling over the years. If you ask anyone of his family or friends, they probably have a funny story to share of a road trip they went on with him. While in Minneapolis he spent as much time as he could with his biological mother, and always spoke of how he wished he had more time with her. He loved his family and close friends so very much. Once you were his "Pal" there's no telling when, or where he would show up. He carried this natural stoic expression that made you wonder of his mood, and then he'd shoot you a smile that would light up his face, and the room. Roger also held a great love for his grandchildren. He enjoyed visiting with them whenever he got the chance. There are numerous pictures that caught him smiling at the children of his family. A man of many journeys throughout his life, who will be missed by everyone he ever befriended, or called his family both adoptive & blood. He helped as many as he could with whatever he could when he seen them struggling. A million variations of chapters of his complete & full life lived, eases minds to know he finally gets to be at peace.

Roger is survived by his brothers Rodney 'Rock'(Rose) St. John, Sisseton, SD, Theodore 'Ted' St. John, Sisseton, SD, John 'Jack' (Catherine) Jeffers, New York, NY, Kenneth 'Kenny' (Kay) St. John, Minneapolis, MN; cousin, Thomas LaBlanc, Sr. His sons Andrew Jeffers, Kyle Jeffers, and Keith Jeffers, His grandchildren, His foster mother and father, and many nieces and nephews and extended family.

Roger is preceded in death by his parents Edward & Celeste (LaBlanc) St. John Sr.; Brothers Phillip St. John, Robert St. John, Edward St. John, Timothy St. John, Sandford Jeffers (St. John), Jeff Jeffers (St. John), Marlon Smith; Sisters J. Louise St. John, Yvonne St. John, Patricia St. John, Jennifer St. John.