Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt Derry Jr.

Frederick, SD-Memorial Service for Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt Derry Jr., 95, of Frederick will be 10:30 am, Monday, August 29, 2022, at Aurland Norwegian Lutheran Church, rural Frederick. Mr. Jeff Tveit will officiate. His wife, JoAnn requests casual dress. The service will be recorded and available at www.Carlsenfh.com under Ted’s obituary after the service.

Burial will be in Aurland Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery with military honors.

There will be visitation for one hour prior to the service at the church.

Early Sunday morning, August 14, 2022, we lost one of our last remaining World War II heroes. Theodore ‘Ted” Roosevelt Derry Jr. went to heaven to join his daughter, Kris, and other waiting family and friends.

On February 1, 1927, Ted was born in Marcus, Iowa. The first of 6 children for his parents--Theodore and Kristine (Soe—his mother being born in Denmark) Derry. His prowess with mechanics and accidents began at the age of 2 or 3 when he pulled a plug from a washing machine and was burned with hot water. The family soon moved to the Ellendale/Forbes area. Ted attended Weber Township Country School and had two years of high school at Frederick, SD and Forbes, ND. He worked for many area homesteaders under his dad.

On May 22, 1945, at the age of 18 he began his military service with the Army. He became very sick on the ship on the way over to Germany and spent the first 3 months in a hospital in France. He was stationed in Germany where he organized and ran the supply unit. He returned home December 1, 1946, and began farming and doing odd jobs.

Ted met JoAnn Johnson at a Legion dance on Memorial Day in 1953, she didn’t like him as he didn’t dance, but they had a second date on the Fourth of July, were engaged in August and married November 4th of that year at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Frederick. Their daughter Kristie Lee was born November 11, 1957. They farmed on JoAnn’s family’s farmstead most of their lives. Ted became the Elm Valley School District bus mechanic. After retiring from the school, they spent several winters in Las Vegas with Kris.

Ted could fix anything with almost nothing. He was always known for tinkering, fixing, getting into accidents, feeding the pheasants and deer, and driving Jo crazy! He loved doing puzzles. He had a great sense of humor which helped him persevere through many struggles in his life.

Surviving Ted is JoAnn, wife of almost 69 years, sister-in-law Betty (Bill) Jongbloed, Wahpeton, ND and a brother-in-law, Clarence Moore, Harrison, Idaho, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Preceding Ted in death is their daughter, Kris, on November 27, 2013, and his siblings Emeline (Harlen) Ferguson, Ruth (Charlie) Hart, Betty Moore, Sherman Derry, and John Derry.  

Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Ellendale has been entrusted with arrangements. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt Derry Jr., please visit our floral store.