Rev. Roger D. Grow

GROW, TEBBETS, TODD, MCCONNELL, JOHNK

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 6/26/2009 at 16:38:40

Rev. Roger D. Grow, 85, of Iowa City, IA, died Tuesday, January 23, 2007, at Mercy Hospital, following a short illness.

Roger was born August 15, 1921, in Watertown, SD, to Fred C. and Nina (Tebbets) Grow. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1939, and began studying printing, journalism, and music at South Dakota State College, Brookings, with the intention of a career with the family business, F. C. Grow Sons Printers, Watertown. He then served in World War II, 1942-45, in the European Theater, with Advanced Echelon Headquarters, European Civil Affairs Division (Military Government); he was discharged as a Technical Sergeant.

He earned a BA (1949) and a BTh (1950) from Yankton College, and did a year of graduate theology study at the University of Southern California. Ordained as a Congregational (later United Church of Christ) minister in 1951, he served congregations in Tombstone, AZ; Pasadena, CA; Clay Center, NE; Weeping Water, NE; Beresford, SD; Mobridge, SD; Walnut, IA; Ainsworth, NE; and Rapid City, SD. He also served on the staff at Yankton College from 1970-74.

He retired from the active ministry in 1985, and was managing editor of the South Dakota UCC Conference magazine, from 1988-1994. Named as Yankton College Alumnus of the Year in 1969, he served in many leadership capacities in the church, and as president of local ministerial associations and in many local civic and service organizations.

Roger married Betty Lou Todd in Winner, SD, on August 7, 1948. They moved to Iowa City in 1995. He is survived by his wife, four children: Kathy Grow, Yankton, SD; Susan McConnell, Iowa City, IA; Carol Johnk, Coralville, IA; Roger Grow, Plainfield, VT; six grandchildren: Kelly McConnell, Tim (Molly) McConnell, Elissa Johnk, Chellis Grow, Emerson Grow, Lincoln Grow; special friends Lea Ann Schramm, Yankton, SD; Keith and Marnie Grow Johnk, Coralville, IA; Thomas W. McConnell, Norfolk, NE; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers, and five sisters.