Rogene Hagel, Age 90, of De Smet died Friday, May 12, at the Good Samaritan Home in De Smet. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 29th, from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Osthus Funeral Home in De Smet. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, May 30th, at 11:00 A.M at the De Smet Community Church with Reverend Jim Millman officiating. Private committal service prior to memorial service. Osthus Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Rogene was born January 2, 1927, in Wessington Springs, SD, to Willy and Cora Fitzgerald. She attended Jerald County School and graduated from Wessington Spring High with the class of 1945. After High School, Rogene was employed at a bank, where she worked for an insurance company and a lawyer during tax time.

She married Oran “Red” Alger in 1948. They moved to De Smet where they made their home. Oran passed away suddenly after contracting polio. Rogene married Leon Carpenter and they continued to live in De Smet. In 1981, she married Leland Hagel and they lived on a farm outside of De Smet, before moving to town.

Rogene started working at the Good Samaritan Center the second day it opened as a Nurse’s Aide. In 1974, she went to Mitchell Vo Tech to study nursing and became a Licensed Practice Nurse. After receiving her nursing degree, Rogene returned to the De Smet area and worked at various hospitals, and eventually returned to the Good Samaritan Center, where she worked until she was 73. Rogene was very dedicated to the nursing profession, and especially enjoyed working with the elderly.

For many years, Rogene was an active member of the First Congregation Church. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and belonged to Women’s Fellowship; serving in many roles. She was a member of the American Legion from 1950, in which she held all offices several times. She was an original member of the “Just a Club.” Rogene volunteered at blood drives, was an election official, a Cub Scout leader, and volunteered for many school functions.

Rogene is survived by her children Gregg (Judy) Alger, Kay Alger (Gene) Carmody, Carol Carpenter (Ron) Ridenour, Rod (Dawn) Carpenter; stepchildren Greg (Karen) Hagel, Marsha Hagel (Scott) Mutschler; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Jim Carpenter; husbands Oran Alger and Leland Hagel; her parents, her brother, Fayne, and her sister, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that the memorials be made to the De Smet Community Church, the De Smet Cemetery, the Good Samaritan Center, or the American Legion.

- Osthus Funeral Home