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Mildred Evelyn (Evens) Tepsa died peacefully on January 30, 2018, at Franklin House, Portage Pointe, where she resided for the past 3 years.
She was born on July 6, 1921, in Marilla, Michigan, the daughter of Marian and Lucile (Votaw) Evens. Her childhood was spent in the Cadillac/Traverse City area.
Mildred graduated from Ferris Institute in 1941 with an Associate degree in Rural School Education after which she accepted an elementary grades teaching position in the Laird Township schools. Through fellow teachers, she met and fell in love with Bernard D. Tepsa. They married in August, 1942, and made their home on his family farm where together they raised seven children. Mildred left teaching after her first son was born, but, when her youngest was a toddler, she returned first to full-time substitute teaching and then regular full-time positions while completing her Bachelor’s and ultimately her Masters degrees. Mildred retired in 1986, immensely proud to have helped so many children to learn their basics and with fond memories of them all. She would proudly state that no child ever left her grade unable to read.
Besides her devotion to her family and her students, Mildred enjoyed reading-especially history and archeology, flowers-both wild and in her gardens, knitting, and she had a life-long love of poetry. She was a member of Mission United Lutheran Church in Pelkie, Baraga County Retired Teachers, and Phi Kappa Phi honor society for educators.
Mildred is survived by her children: David (James Forkey)of Bridgeport, N.Y., Marianne (Michael Mayotte) Tepsa of Hancock, Kristin Tepsa of Houghton, Melinda Charles of San Antonio, TX, Joel (Sylvia Matthews)Tepsa of Portage Township, Bernadette (Charles Ouellette) Yeoman-Ouellette of Houghton, and Elizabeth (John) Drexler of Boulder, CO. Grandchildren: James D. (Jill) Johnson III, Lisa (Kirk) Strieter, Aren B. Burthwick, Genevieve (Zachary) Hallford, Hannah Tepsa, Andrew (Kyla), Adam (Rhian) and Thomas Yeoman; Benjamin, Nathaniel ( Nicole Gravallas) and Naomi Drexler; and Neil (Shannon Shocknesse) Frakes. Great-grandchildren: Cassidy, James D., Allison, Samuel, Benjamin, and Nicholas Johnson; Joseph and Jacob Bedore; Jasper Hallford, June Yeoman, and Allannah Drexler. Great-great-grandchildren: Novah Bedore and Riley Bedore. Brothers Willard (MaryAnn) Evens and Max Evens. Sister Helen Peterson; and many cherished nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Bernard (d.1978), brothers Donald and Richard, and granddaughter Lori Johnson.
A memorial Celebration of Life will be held in late July at the Mission United Lutheran Church in Pelkie. Burial will be in the Pelkie Cemetery. The Jacobson Funeral Home is assisting the family.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to the residents and wonderful staff at Portage Pointe who provided friendship and such tender care of our mother over the past three years.
Friends may sign Mildred’s guest book or send condolences at www.jacobsonfuneralhome.com.
