Vera Ruth Rogers

MOM’S HISTORY

Vera Ruth Wiese Rogers was born in a country farmhouse in Crawford County, Iowa on March 14, 1918, the first child of Emil and Laura Wiese and sister to Clara Mae (deceased), Mary Louise, brothers Gilbert Ward (deceased), and Marcus John. She is survived by her son Geoffrey. Although confirmed on April 9th, 1933 into the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, she has been a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in San Diego since 2001. She came to South Dakota with her parents and little sister Clara in 1923 and grew up on the farmlands of eastern South Dakota. Her family farmed near Ashton and then two more near Brentford. Then the family moved to the Stahl farm, eight miles east of Ashton and subsequently to Frankfort where Vera finished the eighth grade. She graduated from Doland High School and then attended Watertown Business and Commercial College. From there she worked in Redfield briefly but went on to positions with retail clothing stores in the western Minnesota towns of Blue Earth and Albert Lea. After this, she became the secretary to the general manager of Public Utilities in Albert Lea. She headed west in 1943 to visit friends who had earlier moved to Ocean Beach in San Diego, California. She liked it here and moved to La Jolla, where she rented a room in a brown house near Girard Ave. and Coast Blvd South (no longer standing) across from Ellen Scripps Park. In 1945 she moved to San Francisco to live with friends who worked for the Matson Lines shipping company. There, she lived at 2020 California Street and worked under a wartime appointment until after the surrender of Japan. After this she took a part-time job at Bank of America. In 1946 she came back to San Diego with friends, rented an apartment in Hillcrest and worked for two successive employment agencies. She married in 1950 and was a homemaker for six years before going back to work, first as an executive secretary at Ryan Aeronautical and then as office manager for Sulley-Jones Roofing Company. She also sold World Book Encyclopedia and Shaklee products for a short period. Her skills in bookkeeping earned her a job at the May Company in 1965 where she worked until retirement in 1995. She joined First United Methodist by reaffirmation of faith in 2001, was active in Tender Loving Christians, and completed the Disciple Bible Study course in 2004. She stayed busy with church and social activities and kept her mind sharp with daily crossword puzzles until moving to a nursing home in 2011. Even there, her outgoing nature kept the staff on their toes. In lieu of flowers please send donations to First United Methodist Ministry of Music and Grace Lutheran Church.

Detailed chronology from subsequent interviews:

Born in farmhouse Crawford County, Iowa in 1918. (Birth registered at Dennison, Iowa.)
Baptized into the Christian faith, Buck Grove, Iowa; September 22, 1918.
(Sponsors were her grandparents: Anna Marie and Edward Stahl, Katherine and Carl Wiese.)
Clara Mae born in 1919.
Family moved to South Dakota in 1922.
Lived on Blumhall farm near Ashton, South Dakota for several years.
1923 family moved to Brentford, South Dakota and lived on the Christiansen farm. Schoolhouse burned down and classes held in private home for balance of year. 1925, Gilbert Ward born.
Moved to Stahl farm eight miles east of Ashton and continued school in a one room schoolhouse until middle of eighth-grade.
1932 family moved to Frankfort, South Dakota. Mary Louise born.
1933 family moved to Doland, South Dakota and worked New York Life Insurance-owned farms. Insurance companies bought most all the farms because of bankruptcy throughout the middle states. Vera finished eighth grade and then four years of high school with graduation in 1936. Marcus John born same year.
1936 went to Watertown Business and Commercial College and then moved to Redfield and worked there.
From Redfield moved to Blue Earth, Minnesota to live with Beisel family for next 2 years (until 1938). Worked for J.C. Penney Company as department manager.
Moved to Albert Lea, Minnesota to work for Buttrey’s Clothing and for the local public utility company as secretary to the general manager.
1943 moved to San Diego California to be with the Hensels, family friends that lived in Ocean Beach on Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Went to work under civil service appointment at Consolidated Vultee on Pacific Highway. Vera stayed here until VE Day (World War II Victory in Europe, May 8, 1945).
Soon after VE Day, moved to San Francisco, California at 2020 California Street but stayed with relatives in Modesto before getting settled. Took job as secretary for personnel department at Matson Shipping Company.
After VJ Day (World War II Victory over Japan, August 15, 1945), visited Aunt Etta (sister of Emil [Vera’s father]) and Uncle George Jedele in Modesto and traveled with them back to South Dakota. Stayed there several months.
1946 moved back to San Diego and lived with friends in Hillcrest. Began work with two successive employment agencies.
1950 married Robert Lee Rogers and was a housewife for 7 years. 1952 gave birth to Geoffrey. Later worked as an executive secretary for Ryan Aeronautical and then Sulley-Jones Roofing and also sold World Book Encyclopedia and Shaklee products for a short period.
1965 to 1995 worked at May Company as auditor and bookkeeper. Retired 1995.