Carmeen Vipond

Hudson, SD: Carmeen Edith Vipond, 89, of Hudson, South Dakota, passed away Wednesday, February 26, 2025, under the care of hospice at her daughter’s home near Willow Lake, South Dakota. A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 8, at 2:00 PM at the Hudson Lutheran Church with Pastor Carolyn Salberg officiating. Visitation with the family present will be held Friday, March 7, from 5:00-7:00 PM followed by a prayer service at 7:00 PM at Hudson Lutheran Church. Inurnment will be held at Eden Cemetery of Hudson at a later date. Porter Funeral Home of Hudson has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements for Mrs. Vipond.

 Carmeen Edith Vipond, daughter of Richard and Georgia Erlene (Brown) Kinsella, was born October 27, 1935, at her grandmother’s home in Merrill, Iowa, the first of five children. Carmeen was raised in the town of Merrill for the first 10 years of her life and then moved to Hudson, South Dakota. She graduated in 1953 from Hudson High School. In 1953 she entered nursing training in Sioux City, Iowa at the Lutheran School of Nursing and graduated in 1956. Carmeen was united in marriage with John Merle Vipond on June 14, 1956, Merle’s parent’s 40th wedding anniversary. Merle and Carmeen made their home on a farm in Sioux County, Iowa, where they raised their three children: Michael, Crystal and Kirk. They later relocated to a farm by Norway Center, South Dakota. As an RN, Carmeen worked as a nurse in Canton, South Dakota, Rock Valley, Iowa, and Hudson, South Dakota in various hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. She retired in 2002. As a child she attended the Methodist Church in Merrill and then the Lutheran Church in Hudson. Upon marriage Carmeen was a member of the Congregational Church in Hudson until it’s closing. Since 2013, she has been a member of the Hudson Lutheran Church.

 Carmeen was involved in church circle, was a church trustee, taught Sunday School and was a member of the ladies fellowship. She assisted often in school related programs, activities and concerts. Carmeen loved to go camping with her family and friends with the Newton Hills being a favorite destination. Besides her family and friends, she had a close relationship with her many co-workers. They would go out for dinners, take trips and help each other out as needed. Some of Carmeen’s hobbies included embroidery, crossword puzzles, sudoku and reading. She was a wonderful cook and made a mean batch of scotcharoos! Carmeen was dearly loved and will be deeply missed. Since Merle has been gone, Carmeen frequently would say “We’ve had a good life” and we all have because Carmeen was a part of it. 

 Carmeen is survived by 3 children, Michael (Darla) Vipond of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, Crystal (Richard) Knock of Bryant, South Dakota, and Kirk (Cheryl) Vipond of Waconia, Minnesota; 8 grandchildren, Charles Vipond, Jacob Vipond, Katarina (Lance) Gunderson, Megan Vipond, Samuel Vipond, Benjamin Vipond, Hannah (David) Cowan, and Marae Vipond; great grandchild, Warren Cowan; and 4 brothers and sisters, Karen (Gene) Van Der Weide, Merland (Beverly) Torkelson, Richard (Becky) Torkelson, and Melanie (Doug) Ranschau. 

 She was preceded in death by her husband, John Merle Vipond; parents, Georgia and Merland “Cope” Torkelson (stepfather) and Richard Kinsella (father); and one brother-in-law, James Strubbe.