Here is Karin’s obituary from The Carroll County Times:
Karin B. Jersild, age 76, of Sykesville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at Carroll Hospice Dove House in Westminster. Born March 18, 1944 in Darmstadt, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Henry C. Bethke and the late Margarete Schönig Bethke. She was the wife of the late James Jersild. Karin had been a rental agent in the real estate industry and had a green thumb for growing plants and loved crabs and beer! Surviving are daughters, Michelle Schönig and her significant other Joseph Erickson Jr., and Pamela Henderson; and granddaughter Lea Henderson. She was predeceased by her brothers, Klaus Wenk and Rudi Bethke.
Karin wrote a letter on June 6, 1958 to her Aunt Hilda:
I hope you are all in the best of health. I heard that Debbie has the chicken pox. I am very sorry to hear that. Tell her I hope she will get better. I have been so busy with school that I haven’t had any time to write to you. Today was the day and I am glad.
We are going back to the States in three months. We don’t know the date yet but we are sure glad to get back. My Brother is going to Frankfurt next week to get his visa.
I am very sorry that I never said thank you for my confirmation. I am sending you two of them. My Brother seems to be a little taller than me. He is only 6 foot 2 inches and I am only 5 foot 4 inches. Well I guess all boys are always tall.
I am very sorry to hear that Rev. Shauer has retired, I guess he was kind of old. I know the chaplain that confirmed me, that was chaplain Sitler, he is an old Navy man, but he retired. He kind of gets the sermon kind of slow. I was confirmed in the Magnus kirche in Worms.
I am very happy to hear that Uncle Howard has gone to Texas because I like it there. I haven’t been there myself but I sure heard nice things about it.
How is baby Ray doing. I hope just fine if he doesn’t catch the chicken pox.
I guess my typing isn’t so because I am learning it alone. Neither is my spelling. Say especially to Uncle Ray. Well I have to go.
May “god” Bless and keep you all the way.
Love, the precious speller, Karin and family
