Roger D. Tellefsen's Obituary
We regret to inform family and friends of the recent passing of Roger Donald Tellefsen, 85, of Stafford Springs, CT. He died peacefully on the morning of May 30, 2023 at Evergreen Healthcare Center in Stafford while recovering from a recent hospitalization. Roger was born on October 2, 1937 in Staten Island, NY to Ansgar and Lillian (Andersen) Tellefsen. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Staten Island, NY. As a youth he was involved in 4-H and loved coming to Connecticut as a respite from the city. Roger attended Port Richmond High School and graduated in 1956. He attended Staten Island Community College from September 1957-June 1959. He completed his degree at Concordia College in Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1962. He served in the Connecticut National Guard from 1962-1968. He was on active duty from October 1962-March 1963 and stationed at Fort Dix in the infantry and in the active reserve until 1968 when he received an honorable discharge from the Putnam National Guard. He spent most of his career as an industrial arts teacher. He served initially at Enfield High School as an industrial arts instructor for one year and later at Stafford High School as a Technical Education instructor for 40 years where he helped to shape the minds, talents and character of young men and women. His teaching was notable for his attention to details and instilling the values of hard work and honesty in his students. In addition to teaching, he loved life on the farm, especially caring for and raising his cattle which he continued to enjoy most recently with his business partner and friend Ross Faber up until the day he died. As an adult he was a member of the Connecticut Education Association, the Italian Benefit Society in Stafford Springs, Strazza, Tonoli-Emhoff American Legion Post 26 in Stafford, the Nutmeg Antique Truck Club, and Corvette Club of America. He served on the Connecticut Marketing Authority as an Admiral, appointed by Gov. Meskill for a 6 year term in 1968. Additionally, he served Stafford as a Constable and supernumerary police officer for 12 years. He had been a member of multiple congregations over the course of his adult life including most recently the Second Congregational Church in West Stafford, 1998-present. Those who know Roger will recall that he was happiest attending stock car races with friends, dancing, polkas and country music, spending time with kids and grandkids and doing the work of farm life including cutting hay in the summer sun, putting the cattle out to pasture or calling them for the night. He enjoyed even the mundane tasks of caring for his 100 year old farm and took pride in the fixing of equipment and the maintenance of his barns and buildings.
Preceding Roger in death are his parents, Ansgar and Lillian Tellefsen, his two brothers Clifford and Lloyd Tellefsen, his second wife Andrea (Kunhardt) Tellefsen, and his daughter Karen Marie Tellefsen. Roger is survived by three children, a daughter-in-law and two sons-in-law, Patricia (Tellefsen) and Brett Opdahl of Montevideo, MN; Laura (Tellefsen) and Shawn Roberts of Crosby, MN and Roger and Christine Tellefsen of Portsmouth, RI; as well as his first wife Beverly (Lerohl) Tellefsen of Granite Falls, MN and longtime friend Linda Sprague of Stafford Springs, CT. He has six grandchildren: Ellie and Addie Opdahl, Samuel and Sydney Roberts and Landon and Quinn Tellefsen. His funeral service will be held on Monday, June 5, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. Friends and family are encouraged to speak at the memorial and share a memory of him. Burial will follow in Stafford Springs Cemetery, Stafford Springs, CT. Calling hours are on Sunday, June 4, 2023 from 2:00 – 4:00 P.M. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donation may be made to the Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of Stafford, Roger Tellefsen Fund, P.O. Box 25, Stafford Springs, CT 06076. To leave a condolence online for the family, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com
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