William Jeppesen

William Frederick "Bill" Jeppesen, age 92 years, 5 months, passed away peacefully at Valley View Manor, Lamberton, Minnesota on Wednesday, January 4, 2017. Bill was born on July 24, 1924 in Brookville Township, Redwood County, Minnesota to parents William E. Jeppesen and Laura (nee Larsen) Jeppesen. Bill was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith in the Presbyterian Church, Morgan, MN. Bill attended District 49 country school through the 8th grade. Bill farmed with his father in Redwood County until being inducted into the United States Army in December of 1944. Bill attended basic training at Fort Hood, Texas. He then returned home for a short visit en route to Fort Meade, Maryland expecting to be sent to Europe. Upon arrival at Fort Meade, Bill received orders to Camp Stoneman, California for deployment to the Pacific Theater. Bill landed in the Philippines and awaited the anticipated invasion of Japan. After the Japanese surrender, Bill was landed near Hiroshima, Japan, where he served in the US Army of Occupation. Bill spoke of hauling rubble out of Hiroshima and of helping clear the city for rebuilding. Bill returned to the United States on September 28, 1946 and received his honorable discharge on November 17, 1946. Bill was a member of the American Legion Post 41 Andrew Peterson, Lamberton, MN. Bill met his future wife Ada F. Hansen at the roller skating rink in Sanborn, MN. Bill and Ada were married on September 30, 1951 at the Sharon Lutheran Church in Lamberton, MN. Bill and Ada were married for 58 years prior to Ada's passing in 2009. Following their marriage the couple farmed south of Morgan, MN in Brookville Township, Redwood County until Spring of 1963, when they moved to Highwater Township, Cottonwood County. Ada and Bill continued farming until retiring in 1987. While farming at Lamberton, Bill worked part-time driving semi-truck for Vernon Theis, and later for Farmer's Livestock. Bill continued to drive semis part-time hauling gravel, anhydrous ammonia, and fertilizer into his early eighties. When Bill was not driving truck, he could be found in his basement workshop making scale wood models of antique farm implements and machinery that he had used during his lifetime. All of the toys were made from scratch without the help of any type of plan except for that which he might himself sketch. Bill made 11 such farm implement models, along with one model of an old west stagecoach. Bill and Ada both enjoyed attending vintage farm shows with the boys, and displaying their International Harvester "red" farm tractors and implements at local shows in Hanley Falls and Butterfield. Bill often helped Ada many autumns when she was busy baking her apple pies. He would peel and slice the apples while Ada rolled the pie dough and mixed the filling. Bill also loved to get on his Grasshopper lawn mower and mow the large farm yard. After he moved to Valley View Manor, Bill asked whether his doctor would let him come out and help mow the farm lawn. After Bill moved into Valley View Manor, he enjoyed playing Bingo and showing other residents and the nursing home staff his photo book of his scale wood toys. Bill is survived by his son, Kim William Jeppesen (spouse, Jeffrey L. Strand) of Minneapolis, MN; brother Alton Jeppesen (Mary) of Pensacola, FL; sister Irene Williams of Parkers Prairie, MN; brother Russell Jeppesen (Mary Ann) of Morgan, MN; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and grand- and great grand- nieces and nephews, and his canine companion Half Pint. William F. Jeppesen was preceded in death by his beloved wife Ada F. Jeppesen; parents William E. Jeppesen and Laura Jeppesen; brother-in-law Alton Hansen; and father-in-law and mother-in-law Anton Hansen and Gladys Hansen. Funeral arrangements with the Sturm Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Lamberton, MN. Visitation 1 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Sunday, January 8, 2017 Sturm Funeral Home, Lamberton Chapel 502 S. Main Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Visitation 2 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Monday, January 9, 2017 Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Lamberton, MN 805 Birch St. Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Service Information 1:00 pm Monday, January 9, 2017 Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Lamberton, MN 805 Birch St. Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Interment Information Lamberton Cemetery 2700 125th St. Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Miltary Honors Military Honors by Andrew Peterson American Legion Post #41. Luncheon Luncheon to follow interment at the church.