PRICELESS PHOTO

What’s a picture worth?
To a Steele County family, it’s the last memory they have of their father before a quick, fast-moving cancer took his life only a month after his son’s wedding.
Logan Rogotzke got married to Bailey Duchene on Sept. 12 on some land along the river owned by her grandfather outside of Faribault. Photographer Skye Devoe of Medford captured a priceless image that will forever be etched in the minds of the couple.
Devoe took a photo of Logan with his father, Rocky Rogotzke of Owatonna, giving him a bear hug. Logan didn’t have a clue the photo was taken until after the wedding. About a month later, the photo became the center of a memorial honoring the life of Rocky, who died after a sudden, but heroic battle with lung cancer.
“The pictures she took were purely out of her heart,” said Bailey. “If she wasn’t there, we wouldn’t have gotten those pictures.”
Added Logan, “It was awesome to see those photos. We have good pictures that we can see forever.”
Just as Devoe lifted her camera, Rocky threw him arm around Logan and pulled him into a headlock, joking around with him. “We all had a giggle,” Devoe said. “I appreciated seeing the interaction because it showed the humorous, playful nature of their relationship. They were so lucky to have that with each other.”
Upon learning the couple was traveling back to Steele County for Rocky’s funeral, Devoe immediately thought of the hugging image. “Logan can someday show his future children this photo, and hopefully it will remind him of his father’s good nature as he tells them about their grandfather,” Devoe said. “Even though this wasn’t the image I planned to capture, I am so glad I did,” she added.
The photo, Bailey said, has been framed and will be prominently displayed in their Minot, N.D. home. Logan is stationed in Minot with the U.S. Air Force. They both graduated from Medford High School, Logan in 2018 and Bailey in 2019.
“It’s definitely a picture I will be looking at a lot. I’m thankful that we got it,” Logan said.
 
 
 
Both Logan and Bailey said they have never realized the importance of taking photos until now. “They were the last pictures taken of him when he was healthy,” he said.
Logan said his father wasn’t much for taking photos. But, he said, this particular photo shows his father’s true character. “He was a funny, happy going guy,” Logan said. “It shows his spirit over the other ones,” he added.
The entire Rogotzke family was shocked when they found out Rocky had cancer. He started out with a cough, and his doctor diagnosed him with phenomena. He was put on some medication, but it didn’t work. One night around Oct. 1 he couldn’t breath and his wife, Susi, called 911. He was taken to Owatonna hospital and flown to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.
A few days after arriving at St. Mary’s doctors found Rocky had masses in his lungs. “It was took bad to work on,” Logan said. They initially thought chemotherapy would be an option, but things kept getting worse. The cancer had spread all over Rocky’s body. He died at the hospital Oct. 13, two days after his 51st birthday.
“It’s unfortunate and sad it happened,” Logan related. “It sucks the way it had to happen.”
But, Logan stresses, as religious as his family is, they are focused on the fact that things happen for a reason. “He would want us to grow from it,” Logan said. “We are focused on moving forward and growing from what happened,” he added.
Logan is thankful he got back home to get married when he did. He had been stationed in South Korea for a year. His mid-tour kept getting postponed several times because of COVID-19. The wedding was actually planned four times before it finally went off on Sept. 12.
“I’m thankful I was able to get back and see him before he passed,” Logan said. “I’m glad we made memories before things got bad.”
Rocky didn’t feel good already just prior to the wedding. Fearing he had COVID, he wanted to stay home so that he wouldn’t pass anything to other relatives. Thankfully, for Logan and Bailey, he ended up going to see them get married.
Up until his death, Rocky was employed at Daiken in Owatonna where he “had a tight bond” with the people he worked with,” Logan said. “They were so saddened by what happened,” he noted. Rocky also previously worked at Cybex and Hy-Vee in Owatonna.
A small memorial service was held at Brick-Meger Funeral Home in Owatonna on Oct. 21.
Logan, who works on nuclear weapons on the base, hopes he and his new bride can end up back in Steele County close to family after serving in the Air Force. “We are comfortable with the area and have family there. That’s what is most important to us,” he said.
While the couple has gone through a whirlwind of emotions, Bailey said she has learned an important lesson over the past few months. “Love your family. Be close and cherish the time you do have together because you don't know when it will end,” she said.