Carolyn Maud Bludorn Derscheid died March 11, 2010 in Rapid City. She was born in Chicago on November 21, 1918, to Clifford and Carolyn Bludorn and grew up in nearby Maywood during the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. Carolyn attended Proviso High School, where she won awards for her writing and served as editor of the newspaper and editor-in-chief of the yearbook.
She obtained a scholarship to Grinnell College in Iowa, enrolled as an English major in 1936, and worked several jobs to pay her way. Carolyn loved Grinnell and was active in campus activities, leading Mortar Board and editing the yearbook and Zephyr magazine. After graduating in 1940, Carolyn sought a job teaching English but accepted a position in the Sears Roebuck correspondence department in downtown Chicago. As “Marion Lamont,” Carolyn used her writing skills to assist customers.
During World War II, Carolyn served her country as a Lieutenant in the Navy WAVES. She was stationed in Washington, D.C., where she had the classified job of editing the Standard Navy Distribution List, keeping track of “all the ships at sea” and helping to ensure that letters from home reached our far-flung sailors. She met Navy LTJG Vincent Kenwood Derscheid in 1946, when he was “The Man” who reported to her office to replace her. They were married that September and moved to Madison, Wisconsin, and then to Appleton, where they lived for 32 years and raised three children.
Carolyn volunteered for many organizations, including the Appleton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, school PTA, Kings Daughters and the AAUW. She helped establish and operate the Put ‘n’ Take charity thrift shop. Carolyn was a Girl Scout leader and piano accompanist to the Appleton West High School swing choir. She cherished her two book clubs, gave theatrical “book talks” to children and adults, sewed clothes for her children, enjoyed embroidery and quilting, and created countless items for charity bazaars. Carolyn was a longtime class agent for fellow Grinnell alums, winning Class Agent of the Year twice and receiving Grinnell’s coveted Distinguished Alumni Award.
The Derscheids moved to Rapid City in 1980. Carolyn participated in the Canyon Lake Senior Center, acting in the Past Prime Time Players and writing for the center’s newspaper. She completed several Volksmarch walks and continued her lifelong love of gardening. Carolyn and Vince were avid travelers, visiting many National Parks and cities in the United States. Carolyn vacationed in Cuba, Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. She even made it to Papeete, Tahiti. Carolyn was a friend to many, a creative, nurturing mother and a devoted wife to Vince. Her family took priority over a promising writing career, which included winning the Chicago Tribune’s 1945 fiction contest for men and women in uniform. She published pieces in an Appleton literary journal and served as publicity chair for many non-profit organizations. Carolyn used her talent, humor and dazzling vocabulary to pen poems, short stories, essays, and the best Christmas letters in the universe.
An avid reader, she maintained a diverse library, especially enjoying mysteries and history. Her ability to recall song lyrics, poems and educational tidbits learned throughout her life earned her the title “The Queen of Trivia.”
She is survived by her children Eric “Rick” Derscheid of Kirkland, Wash., Jan Christine McKelvie (Bill), Steamboat Springs, Colo., Julie Claire Derscheid of New York, N.Y., stepchildren Carol Farnum (Dan), and Gordon Derscheid, of Florida, AFS exchange student son Guillermo “Kico” Iturra of Santiago, Chile, 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother Robert.
Service Arrangements
A memorial service will be held March 19 at 10 a.m. at Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home followed by burial with full military honors at Black Hills National Cemetery.