CECELIA JERDE
The memorial service for Cecelia Jerde will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2022 at First Lutheran Church. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. The service will be livestreamed on the Britton Lutheran Parish Facebook page.
Cecelia Dorothy (Butenhoff) Jerde was born September 23, 1923, at her parent’s farm in rural Baker, MN. The middle child of seven, she enjoyed sharing her early years on the family farm.
School was always an important part of Cec’s life, and she started at the country school within walking distance - 1-1/2 miles by road from home (shorter if the field was walkable). In a class of two she advanced quickly to stay challenged in her learning. She graduated from Barnesville High School at 16 and then attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. She was always thankful for the support of her parents that made this possible.
She met Desmond Jerde at Concordia and they became friends and then, officially, a couple in late 1943 when they began dating. While Des was busy fighting the war in the Pacific, Cec taught school at Bainville, MT for one year. Then on to St. Paul, MN with three friends, including Bertha Gronseth of Britton, where she was occupied with work at a chemistry lab developing beauty products. This lasted, she said, until Des appeared at the lab one day and she left with him, never to return.
Cec and Des were married on August 30, 1947, and settled into his family home in Britton, SD. Work and family consumed the early years of their life together as she became mother to five and managed a household of eight, which also included her father-in-law, Ed. A return to teaching home economics as her children grew older provided a new challenge and joy to her life. She also found fulfillment in her volunteer activities in the church and community.
Britton provided a comfortable home for Cec as she became a part of the community and her church (First Lutheran). She had many friends and loved playing cards with them. After the children were raised and sent on their way, Cec and Des enjoyed traveling to various parts of the country and the world but were always happiest in their comfortable Britton home.
She passed away Monday, February 7, 2022 at Marshall County Healthcare Center in Britton, at the age of 98.
Cecelia was preceded in death by her parents, Ferdinand and Emma Butenhoff, her husband of 55 years, Desmond, five of her siblings and many family and friends. She is survived by her five children – Lloyd (Vicki), Susan (Paul Frederickson), David (Judy), Duane (Bette) and Edward (Maggie) and their families – her brother Laurence (Beverly) and many more family and friends. Thirteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren were blessed to share her love.
An extra special place in her heart was held for her youngest son, Edward, who lived with her and shared her years after the love of her life, Des, passed away in 2002.
Thank you to the staff of Spruce Court for the excellent care they provided as she enjoyed her final few years. And to the staff of Marshall County Healthcare Center for their care when she needed it most.
A service of remembrance will take place at a later date. Her final instruction - don’t grieve for me, celebrate my life. And so - we will.
Memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church – Box 150 – Britton, SD 57430 or a local charity.
Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Ed Jerde – PO Box 287 – Britton, SD 57430.
An online guestbook and obituary are available at www. pricefuneralchapel.net.