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Charles Roger Hokanson, 83, of Taos, passed away on March 21, 2008. Roger was born in Hennepin County, MN, to Matilda "Betty" and Francis "Elmer" Hokanson. The Hokansons moved to Taos in the 1930's and lived on the Ed Lineberry Estate on North Pueblo Road as estate groundskeepers. Roger enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943. H served in the Pacific theatre during World War II aboard the U.S.S. Badoeng Strait, one of the first U.S. vessels to arrive at Pearl Harbor after the Japanese attack. Roger continued his tour in the South Pacific as a carpenter's mate until his Honorable Discharge in 1947. After returning to Taos, he married Jessie Burk Miller on October 31, 1952. Roger may be best known around Taos as "The Milk Man", having worked a number of years at the Taos Locker Plant and the Johnson Dairies in El Prado. He delivered milk and dairy products to stores in Taos, Eagle Nest, Red River, and Questa in the 1950s and 1960s. After a brief period working with Miller's Autoland and Brinks Security, Roger was employed at MolyCorp as a heavy equipment operator and was known by his co-workers as "Lechero". He retired in the late 1980s and enjoyed taking care of his home and yard on Las Cruces Road. Jessie died in May 1993 after 40 years with the local Ford dealership and Roger suffered a brain injury in 2003 and had been a resident of a care facility in Albuquerque for the past five years. Roger was a member of Masonic Bent Lodge # 42 and had maintained the lodge grounds for many years before his injury. He was also a life member of the Taos Volunteer fire department. Roger is survived by his brother, Gerald Hokanson and wife, Marilyn; sister, Marilyn Kennon and husband, Ray; sons, Jacob Miller and Glenn Hokanson and wife Stella; daughters. Averye Miller Parrett Ralston, Pam Miller Airhart Fojtik and husband, A.J. and Teri Medina and husband, Gary; twelve grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces. Cremation has taken place. Services will be conducted on Monday, March 31, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Services are entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010 www.danielsfuneral.com
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