Verda Jepsen Qualman

Verda Jepsen Qualman, 100, passed away Thursday, August 28, 2014, at Golden Age Heritage Home in Preston, ID.

She was born March 23, 1914, in Rexburg, ID the daughter of Andrew Jepsen , Jr. and Eliza Christina Nielsen. At age 5, the family moved to Mink Creek, ID. When she was 11, the family moved to Maple Grove Hot Springs where she grew up.

Verda's family was a musical family. They had an organ and the children learned to play by ear. Her Dad played violin, mandolin, and harmonica. Her brothers learned to play the guitar, banjo and ukulele. Verda and Stella played guitar and sang. Their mother, although an invalid in a wheel chair, sang to them and taught them many songs. They were a very close-knit family. They loved dancing and doing things together. To get to school, they had to ride horse-back over the mountain to Mink Creek.

Verda was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Logan Temple on May 2, 1922. On August 12, 1938, she married Arnold J. Qualman in the Salt Lake City Temple. They made their home in Central, ID. Verda served in several church callings and was faithful to do temple work in her later years.

In 1950, they adopted a baby boy and named him Dennis. A nephew, Sheldon A. Johnson, was also like a son to them. They also took another child, Roy Christensen, into their home and cared for him while his mother recuperated from heart surgery. Arnold and Verda provided financial and other support for all three boys to serve missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Arnold died on May 7, 1986. Stella and Ralph Hansen, sister and brother-in law, were caring and loving and included Verda in their family activities after Arnold died.

In January 1992, she moved from the family farm, Central, ID into an apartment in Grace, ID. She spent one year in Pocatello with Roy and Linette Christensen while she recuperated from a surgery. Her home was in Grace until September 2008 when she moved to Spring Creek Manor in Soda Springs. She lived there until the fall of 2010. Then she moved to Heritage Home in Preston where she spent the last four years of her life.

Verda is survived by her son, Dennis, grandchildren, Michael and Kimberlee Qualman , Jamie Dabel, and Danielle Simpson along with several nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband, Arnold, three brothers, Cedric, Darwin and Vernon Jepsen and a sister, Stella.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the Grace L.D.S. Chapel, with Bishop Tom Washburn of the Grace 3rd Ward officiating. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to services at the church. Interement will be in the Central Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel.