James E. Josephson

James E. Josephson, age 90, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Friday, January 9, 2026 at a local hospital. Jim's request was to donate his body to the Sanford School of Medicine Body Donation Program at the University of South Dakota.  No funeral services will be held.

Jim was born on May 9th, 1935 in rural Hayti, SD, and attended country school for 4 years, before going on to graduate from Hazel where he played baseball, basketball and placed in the State Track meet.

In 1953, he attended Augustana College and was on the Track team, obtaining a degree in Physics.  After graduation he moved out to the west coast,

He married Margaret Holum in 1958, although they were only married 7 years, they remained good friends the rest of his life.

He worked and lived at the Naval Ordinance Test Station in China Lake, CA and then attended the University of Washington in Seattle and received a master’s in Public Health at UCLA. And began working at the State Department of Health in Ventura, CA before moving back to the family farm near Vienna, SD to help his parents in their declining health.  After their passing, he moved into Hayti and worked for the US Postal Service as a substitute mail carrier.

Jim spent most of his free time giving rides to elderly people, assisting at nursing homes and others places where he voluntarily took people to dr appointments and anywhere they needed to go.  He had a passion for helping people and assisted with Meals on Wheels for many years, even after his own health started to decline.

Jim’s second passion was genealogy, he spent countless hours researching his family tree as far and wide as it would take him, visiting cemeteries, the library and even a trip to Norway to fill in the gaps.

Jim is survived by his brothers Larry of Omaha NE and Loren of Lake City, SD, and 4 nieces and 2 nephews and many grand nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his father Joseph and his mother Nora (Holsworth) Josephson, and a sister Arla Loy Josephson.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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