Roger Flodin, 88, passed away in Leavenworth, WA, on Tuesday, May 16th, 2017.

Roger was born to Maldur and Edna Flodin on December 4th, 1928, in the town of Winslow on Bainbridge Island. He grew up on Bainbridge and attended school at Pleasant Beach Grade School and Bainbridge High School, from which he graduated at age 17. After high school, Roger enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Japan from 1945 until 1947. Upon returning from the service, Roger enrolled in The University of Washington, where he rowed on the Varsity Crew and became a life-loyal Sigma Chi. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1951 with a degree in business administration.

Roger met the love of his life, Mardette, while she was visiting Bainbridge with family. Roger and Mardette married on August 25th, 1951, at Church of The Epiphany in Seattle. In July of 1954, they moved to Spokane, where Roger worked as a methods assistant for Pacific Telephone Company. Roger was named Jaycee of the Month for May for his work as general chairman of the Junior Lilac Parade conducted May 11, 1957. Under Roger’s chairmanship, that year’s Junior Lilac Parade was considered the finest Junior Lilac Parade ever to be conducted in Spokane. Roger was sub-chairman the previous year, in addition being actively engaged in the 1956 Soap Box Derby. He was a member of the Spokane Junior Chamber of Commerce from 1956-1958.

In 1958, Roger and Mardette moved to Bellevue, where they raised their three children: Leslye, Kerry and Doug.

Roger continued working for Pacific Northwest Bell as a data processing operator, eventually becoming a manager of operations. He retired at the young age of 58 and began his love for travel and adventure. Roger and Mardette enjoyed traveling to Europe on several occasions and visiting as many museums as possible, a passion that they shared as co-founding members and great philanthropist of Bellevue Art Museum. They also enjoyed cruises to Alaska, the Panama Canal and the Mississippi River. As much as they loved all of the places they went, their greatest joy was the four to six weeks they spent each winter on the island of Maui, Hawaii. They loved the “Aloha Spirit,” and playing tennis with friends, swimming in the warm waters of the Pacific and soaking up the sun!

Roger was not only a businessman, but also a craftsman. He remodeled every home they ever lived in and also built a home at their Tulalip Shores Beach property. He was also a wood carver, carving many totems as a relaxing hobby while visiting close friends on Lake Coeur d’Alene and during his later years at the Tulalip Beach house.

Roger was preceded in death by his wife, Mardette, and is survived by his brother, Lyle, and sister-in-law, Ada; daughter Leslye Lewis; son Kerry and daughter-in-law Kathy; son Doug and daughter-in-law Suzanne; granddaughter Whitney Ford and her husband Jordan; grandsons Spencer, Neil and Riley; great-granddaughters Reese and Logan Ford; niece Ann; nephews Dale and Glen; and great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Mountain Meadows Assisted Living in Leavenworth for the love and care they gave to Roger in the two years he lived there.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Bainbridge Island Historical Society, Sigma Chi Foundation of Evanston, Illinois and the Nature Conservancy of Washington.

We Love You, Roger, Dad, Grampy, Brother, Uncle, Cousin! Per Roger’s wishes, a private family service will be held.