Elsie (Hinrich) Carman Jepsen, 96, of Emerson, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at Heritage of Emerson in Emerson. The visitation will be held on Monday, Sept. 14, from 9:30-11 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Emerson. The funeral will follow, beginning at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, with Pastor Patti Meyer officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Emerson. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Emerson.
Elsie was born Jan. 5, 1930, the daughter of Gustov and Emily (Miller) Hinrich, the youngest of 12 children. She attended school in Pender. She married William H. Carman on Oct. 16, 1946. From this union, the couple had three children: Teresa, William, and Patrick. Together they farmed east of Emerson until they moved to town, and then she worked for Voss Manufacturing until retiring in 1992. William passed away in May 1988. She married Lawrence Jepsen in September 1990. Together they lived in Emerson until Lawrence’s passing in February 2012. In her early years, Elsie was a member of Mickie’s Clippers Bowling team, and the Just A Neighbors Club. She enjoyed crafts of all kinds and playing the piano and sewing.
Elsie is survived by her children, Teresa Zorgdrager of Elk Point, S.D., William (Wendy) Carman of Sharpsburg, Ga., Patrick (Teri) Carman of Augusta, Kan.; grandchildren, John (Cristina) Zorgdrager of Minneapolis, Minn., Jennifer (Randall) Wieckowski of Elk Point, S.D., Beau Zorgdrager of Des Moines, Iowa, Jenna (Russ) Taylor of Rome, G., Kody Carman of Sharpsburg, Ga., Carly (Chris) Cooper Emporia, Kan., and Connor (Kati) Carman of Wichita, Kan.; 10 great-grandchildren; stepchildren, Gary (Chris) Jepsen of Omaha, Douglas (Irina) Jepsen of Lincoln, Lowell (Sue) Jepsen of Columbus; step-grandchildren, Sean (Tiffany) Jepsen, Patrick (Hillary) Jepsen, Nick (Rebecca) Jepsen, Sara Jepsen, Andrew Jepsen, Crystal Jepsen (Jerry James), Jacquelyn (Douglas) Eskea, Marsha (Brian) Wagoner, Josh (Kiana) Jepsen, Alison (Braxton) Wilcox, Zach (Mathias) Jepsen; twenty-five step great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and their spouses.
She was preceded in death by her parents; eleven siblings and their spouses; various nieces and nephews; two great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Vern; spouses, William and Lawrence; and her beloved dog, Teddy.
