Telena Deschepper

TELENA DESCHEPPER was born to Ray and Johanna (Lolkus) Lubben on April 20, 1930 on a farm in Murray County, Minnesota. She attended Leota Christian School in Leota, Minnesota. As a young girl, she moved with her family to Leota and helped her father deliver milk. In 1946, she went to the Ashton Care Center in Pipestone, Minnesota to train to be a nurses’ aide. Upon completion of her education, she worked as an aide and she also worked as a waitress and a cook in Pipestone, Worthington and Luverne. On August 13, 1953, she was united in marriage to Glenn DeSchepper. Following their marriage, they lived on the farm in Rock County, near Jasper, Minnesota, and Telena continued her work as a nurses’ aide. In 1971, she became employed as the activity director for Palisade Manor Nursing Home in Garretson, South Dakota. She continued to work there for 21 years until her retirement. After retiring, she spent many hours visiting the residents at the Sunrise Village in Jasper. In fact, she was employed as their first activity director. She spent many fun times at work and often enlisted the help of her family and grandchildren. Glenn preceded her in death on August 17, 2007. After his death, she moved to an apartment in Jasper. On Wednesday, June 13, 2012, she died at her home at the age of 82 years, one month and 23 days.

Telena was a member of the United Methodist Church in Jasper, Minnesota where she was active in the United Methodist Women. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Jasper Senior Citizens, and the Luverne Kitchen Band. For over 20 years, she loved swimming at the Pipestone Ewert Rec Center, despite her fear of the water. She particularly enjoyed family gatherings, playing bingo with her grandchildren, and socializing with her many friends. Besides her family, her joy in life was to bring a smile to someone who was lonely or sad.

She is lovingly remembered by her four children, Elroy DeSchepper and his wife Karen of Jasper, Minnesota, Randel DeSchepper and his wife Nancy of Spicer, Minnesota, Debra Browning and her husband James “Denny” of Hendricks, Minnesota, and Glenda Manchanda and her husband Vini of Hudson, Wisconsin; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and four sisters, Edna Haraldson and her husband Vernon of Pipestone, Minnesota, Wylma Van Dyke and her husband John of Enumclaw, Washington, Lillian Mouw and her husband John of Leota, Minnesota, and Alma Schnyder and her husband Don of Enumclaw, Washington. She was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn; her son, Douglas, who died on March 27, 1976; her parents; and her sister, Henrietta.