In Memory of Roger "Butch" Jepsen

Roger “Butch” Jepsen, age 83, of Holstein, Iowa, (formerly of Ida Grove, Iowa) passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein, Iowa. 

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 26, 2026, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Rev. Neil Wehmas will officiate. Committal Services will be held in the Cushing Cemetery of Cushing, Iowa. 

A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. 

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Roger “Butch” Jepsen, was born on July 14, 1942, in Ida Grove, Iowa, to Harley and Mildred (Hanks) Jepsen. He received his education in the Ida Grove Community School District. 

As many young men did at the time, Butch left school early to enter the workforce. First working alongside his father for the county and then employed by GOMACO in Ida Grove being the fourth employee hired. He worked there for many years as a painting and shipping foreman. Needing a change, Butch went to Crouse Cartage Company working as an over-the-road truck driver until he decided to retire. Never being one to truly retire, he then went to Bohlmann in Denison, Iowa and lastly working for his brother-in-law Jim Langenfeld.

On April 23, 1967, Butch married Karen Marie Fredrichsen of Cushing, Iowa. To this union, three sons were born: Todd, Troy, and Travis. Karen would pass away in December of 1997. On November 14, 2010, Butch married Toni Wilson adding two stepdaughters, Tiffany and Ainsley, to the family. Toni passed away in September of 2023.

Butch was actively involved in his community. He served as a Cub Scout Cub Master until his sons advanced to Boy Scouts. Butch also completed two terms on the Ida Grove School Board, a role that gave him the special privilege of presenting diplomas to two of his sons at graduation. In addition, he enjoyed coaching his sons’ summer rec T-ball teams.

Butch always enjoyed spending time fishing; he preferred to practice catch-and-release and never developed a taste for eating fish. Later in life, he took up golf, but true to his easygoing nature, he never bothered to keep score. Butch and Karen shared a love of roller skating and spent several years managing the Skate Palace. He took great pride in teaching all three of his sons to skate and later passed that skill along to his great-granddaughter, Chloe. A devoted member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ida Grove, Butch faithfully served as head usher for many years. He will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. 

Survivors include his sons Todd (Jolene) Jepsen of Ida Grove, IA, Troy (Kari) Jepsen of Ankeny, IA and Travis (Crystal) Jepsen of Sioux City, IA; stepdaughters Tiffany (Randy) Burk of Glastonbury, CT and Ainsley (Kurt) Brungardt of Westside, IA; grandchildren Erin, Joe, Brynlee, Aubree, Abigail, Gabriella, Grace, Rylee, Jordan, Alec, and Petyon; great-grandchildren Chloe, Samuel, Haelyn, Kane, Addy, and Emmy; brothers Tom Jepsen of Sioux City, IA and Leroy “Bud” (Sharon) Jepsen of Ida Grove, IA; sister Liz Hansen of Winterset, IA; sisters-in-law Barb (Jerry) Younge of Jonesboro, AR and Dee (Jim) Langenfeld of Dow City, IA; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.  

He was preceded in death by his parents Harley and Mildred Jepsen; both wives Karen and Toni Jepsen; grandson Evan Lawhead; and brother Terry Jepsen.