Elsie J Carper

Having just moved to Butte from Arlington, VA in May, Elsie Carper died July 5, 2003, in Butte, MT after a brief illness. She was born Dec. 24, 1920, in Biwabik, MN, the daughter of Charles and Wilhemina Tegelman Josephson. After graduating from Biwabik High School in 1938 and Virginia (Minnesota) Junior College in 1940 she moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked as a civilian for the Marine Corps until 1944 when she began her long career with the U,S. Department of Agriculture and the 4-H movement. She was involved in the purchase and developement of the National 4-H Center in Washington and in th planning and adminsitration of many meetings and conferences there. Beginning in the 1960'x, Elsie began compiliing and preserving the history of the 4-H movement, continuing this work as a volunteer historian after her retirement in 1983 until shortly before her death. The recipient of numerous awards and honors from the USDA and 4-H, she was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame in 2002, the 100th anniversary of the 4-H movement. She was considered to be the living corporate memory of 4-H, the only person to have worked with every 4-H Deputy Administrator. Elsie was active in the Church of the Covenant (Presbyterian) in Arlington, Ca., serving as a member and secretary of the Voard of Deacons, as well as participating in other church activities. Elsie worked for four decades in administration of the national 4-H program, watching it evolve from a farm-oriented youth movement into a leadership and educational program for youngsters across the country