Obituary of Jim Sorensen

Sorensen Jim

Jim Sorensen, 87, of Yankton passed away Saturday February 22, 2025, at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 1st, 11:00 AM at Hope Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls with Bishop Emerita Andrea Degroot-Nesdahl presiding. Online condolences may be sent at www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.

James (Jim) Christian Sorensen truly believed that he could change the world for better. Jim was born to Jens and Nina Sorensen in rural Irene, SD on May 9, 1937. Jim was baptized and confirmed at Turkey Valley Lutheran Church and had six siblings. He knew at an early age that he was called to medical ministry after the untimely death of his brother, Howard. After graduating from Irene Public School, Jim attended Dana College and after two years transferred to Methodist College in Omaha, NE to study nursing. He was the only male in his class. While in college he met and married Carolyn Peterson on April 5th, 1959 at Mamrelund Lutheran in Stanton, Iowa. It was then that the two of them answered the call to be medical missionaries in Ethiopia for the Lutheran Church of America.  Together they built and managed a clinic in rural Ethiopia in the small village of Selekleka. While in Ethiopia they had two daughters, Lynnae and Diane and took in their son, WoldeGerima. Jim has written and published a book about their adventure called: Stories from the Heart of Ethiopia: Memoirs of a Missionary Nurse. 

After their missionary service they returned to the states living for a short time in Omaha, NE and then moving to Yankton, SD. There Jim worked at the SD State Hospital while getting his masters in Omaha at the University of Nebraska and becoming a professor of nursing at Mount Marty University. Later he acquired his PHD in Education and became the Director of Nursing at Mount Marty. 

Eventually, Jim and Carolyn moved to a warmer climate and he took up education again at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX. It was while in Texas that Wolde was able to join the family in the United States. Jim retired as a Professor Emeritus from the University of the Incarnate Word. 

Through all of his life and adventures, Jim was a Lutheran. He taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and volunteered for many missionary support ministries. He was a board member of Water to Thrive, a non profit that builds wells in Ethiopia and Uganda. 

About nine years ago, they moved back to South Dakota, living in Sioux Falls and joining Hope Lutheran Church. The last Sunday School class that Jim taught was entitled “Preparing for Resurrection: Death and Dying”. 

Jim loved his time in the Black Hills at the family cabin and always caught his limit while fishing! (Well,sometimes that was a fish tale.) He loved writing devotionals and keeping up with the many friends and mentees that he made throughout his life. He spent hours doing the detailed work of creating masterpieces in stained glass. He was known for his Ole and Lena jokes and he loved dogs! 

In these last twilight years, Jim and Carolyn lived at Majestic Bluffs in Yankton. 

Jim is preceded in death by his parents Jens and Nina Sorensen and siblings Howard Sorensen, Chester Sorensen, and Alice Peterson. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carolyn Sorenson, his daughters, Lynnae Sorensen and Diane Crumrine (Dave) and his son, WoldeGerema Sorensen. He is also survived by his siblings, Phyllis Smith, Carol Jensen, and Kenneth Sorensen as well as his grandchildren, Beth, Jenny, Katie, Jake, Hoftom, Micheal, Sam, and Sara, his great grandchildren, Noah and Zoe and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Jim taught hundreds of nurses, gave drink to thousands of thirsty Ethiopians and lived his life as a faithful follower of God. However, he will be most remembered as a husband, a father, and a grandfather. He did change the world. 

Memorials may be given to: Hope Lutheran Church or Water To Thrive