Roger Agte, 83

Roger Agte, 83

Roger Agte was born in Plummer, Idaho, on Sept. 17, 1935, to William “Bill” and Fern Agte. He was raised on the family farm; the middle son of three boys.

After he graduated from high school, he attended the University of Idaho’s forestry program for a year, before he went to work for Great Northern Railroad. He and Lois Sargent were married on Nov. 24, 1957. They lived in Spokane, Wash., and raised four children.

Roger had three careers in addition to being a husband and father. He was a switchman with the railroad for nearly 17 years, and also worked a second job as a mover for Mayflower Moving Co. early on to save money, which was a means to purchase a home with 2 acres in the Spokane Valley in 1965. After an injury on the railroad in 1971, he worked several short-term jobs and lived briefly in Portland, before purchasing the Coeur d’Alene Livestock Auction in 1972. He and Lois ran the sale yard together until they sold it in 1989, at which time he obtained his real estate license and was an agent in the Coeur d’Alene area until he retired in 2002.

Roger enjoyed fishing and hunting since he was a boy. He took up gardening again after retirement, and also enjoyed playing poker in Spokane and at tournaments in Pendleton. He loved to watch football and went to many Cougar games with friends and watched the Seahawks and Mariners at home. He and his son, Bill, had an ongoing pro-football pool for close to 40 years. He also became a staunch Gonzaga basketball fan. But the thing he most enjoyed was visiting and talking with people … anyone, anywhere. No one was a stranger for long.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Tom Agte. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lois Agte; younger brother, Lloyd (Barbara) Agte; and his children, Rita (Mike) Michalak, Kevin (Pam) Agte, Bill Agte and Tami Agte (Rich Hazelton); six grandchildren, Tamantha, Melanie, Matt, Dan, Becky and Justin; six great-grandchildren, Timothy, Christian, Summer, Avery, Maddie and Lexie; and one great-great-grandson, Jasper.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave., with a reception to follow. The interment, with a short graveside service, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, at Evergreen Cemetery in Plummer. Lloyd and Barbara Agte will be hosting a gathering in their Plummer home for family and friends afterward.

Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with final arrangements. Please visit Roger’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.