West River Health Services Foundation, the fundraising arm for West River Health Services and Western Horizons Living Centers, recently received a thoughtful $100,000 “legacy gift” from the Roger Follmer Estate. The West River Health Services Foundation Board of Directors will meet in August to visit about the exact placement of this generous estate gift.

“We are so grateful that Roger thought of West River Health Services as a place where he could help everyone in his hometown. His legacy will live on through one of the pillars of our community,” said Foundation Director Ted Uecker. “We are also extremely thankful for Dr. Mark Nelson’s involvement, as he is still in the process of administering the balance of Roger’s estate.”

Roger Follmer, lifelong Hettinger resident and successful farmer, passed from this life at the age of 72 due to surgery complications at St. Alexius Hospital on January 9th, 2021. He was raised in Hettinger and graduated from Hettinger High School in 1967. Roger worked on the family farm his entire life. Making numerous model cars in his younger days, this passion eventually led to Roger’s love of driving fast cars and motorcycles. He’d often share crazy stories about how fast he drove them, especially with members of the local Redliners Car Club. Although Roger never actually hunted himself, he was an avid participant, shooting clay pigeons with friends at the Hettinger Rod & Gun Club and guiding pheasant hunters on his property each fall.

If you would like to visit about a possible “legacy estate gift” to our West River Health Services Foundation, please contact Ted Uecker directly any time at 701-567-3666. He will listen to you and help you develop the best arrangement for your situation. As always, we are grateful. Onward!

By Ted Uecker, WRHS Foundation