Frances Maxine Jensen
September 3, 1931 — June 13, 2019
Frances Maxine Jensen was born September 3rd, 1931, to Homer and Mary (Hazard) Jensen at their home near Harlan, Iowa. She had two older sisters, Evelyn and Elinor, and one younger brother, Ronald.
She attended Laurel Grade School in Harlan and graduated with the class of 1950 from Harlan High School. During her high school days, she worked at the Bisgaard Hospital and Wiig’s Dime Store.
Frances met her future husband, Elmer C. Jensen, on New Year’s Eve 1948 when he came home on military leave from the Navy. They were married on April 8th, 1951, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan by Rev. S.S. Kaldohl. In September 1951, Frances went with Elmer to San Diego, California, while he finished his term of duty. Elmer was discharged from the Navy in January 1952 and they moved back to Avoca. They started working for Glenn Best at Best Seed Corn Company near Tennant. After Glenn was killed in a car accident, they worked for Glenn’s wife, Mildred. Frances and Elmer bought some of the farm from her and began farming.
Frances helped with the farm operation, had a large garden, and raised chickens in addition to raising their five children; David, Cindy, Rick, Denise, and Garland. Frances was active in the Methodist Church in Tennant where she was involved in the U.M.W. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, and M.Y. F. for a number of years. Frances held the office of chairwoman for the Shelby County Farm Bureau Women.
After Elmer retired, they enjoyed camping and going to music festivals. Elmer played the mountain dulcimer and fiddle. Frances played the auto-harp and sang. They spent their winter months in San Juan, Texas, where they M.C’d an acoustic jam. Elmer ran the acoustic jam for seven years, and Frances ran it another seven years after Elmer passed away. They entertained at many churches, clubs, nursing homes, and played at many festivals and fairs. Frances moved to Harlan in 2002, where she enjoyed reading, embroidering, and playing cards. She was a member of the Red Hatters and also involved in the Harlan Methodist Church.
Frances passed away Thursday, June 13th, 2019, at Avoca Specialty Care in Avoca, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-seven years, eight months, and ten days. She was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Mary Jensen; her husband, Elmer Jensen; her in-laws Nels and Katherine Jensen; two sisters, Evelyn and Elinor, and brother-in-law, Rae Murray.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, David (Kim) Jensen of Cincinnati, Ohio; Cynthia South of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Richard (LuAnn) Jensen of Shelby, Iowa; Denise DeSchamp of Grimes, Iowa; and Garland Jensen (Donna Underwood) of Atlantic, Iowa; her eight grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and brother, Ronald (Kathy) Jensen of Branson, Missouri; as well as many nieces and nephews; other family, and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be directed towards cancer research.
She attended Laurel Grade School in Harlan and graduated with the class of 1950 from Harlan High School. During her high school days, she worked at the Bisgaard Hospital and Wiig’s Dime Store.
Frances met her future husband, Elmer C. Jensen, on New Year’s Eve 1948 when he came home on military leave from the Navy. They were married on April 8th, 1951, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan by Rev. S.S. Kaldohl. In September 1951, Frances went with Elmer to San Diego, California, while he finished his term of duty. Elmer was discharged from the Navy in January 1952 and they moved back to Avoca. They started working for Glenn Best at Best Seed Corn Company near Tennant. After Glenn was killed in a car accident, they worked for Glenn’s wife, Mildred. Frances and Elmer bought some of the farm from her and began farming.
Frances helped with the farm operation, had a large garden, and raised chickens in addition to raising their five children; David, Cindy, Rick, Denise, and Garland. Frances was active in the Methodist Church in Tennant where she was involved in the U.M.W. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, and M.Y. F. for a number of years. Frances held the office of chairwoman for the Shelby County Farm Bureau Women.
After Elmer retired, they enjoyed camping and going to music festivals. Elmer played the mountain dulcimer and fiddle. Frances played the auto-harp and sang. They spent their winter months in San Juan, Texas, where they M.C’d an acoustic jam. Elmer ran the acoustic jam for seven years, and Frances ran it another seven years after Elmer passed away. They entertained at many churches, clubs, nursing homes, and played at many festivals and fairs. Frances moved to Harlan in 2002, where she enjoyed reading, embroidering, and playing cards. She was a member of the Red Hatters and also involved in the Harlan Methodist Church.
Frances passed away Thursday, June 13th, 2019, at Avoca Specialty Care in Avoca, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-seven years, eight months, and ten days. She was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Mary Jensen; her husband, Elmer Jensen; her in-laws Nels and Katherine Jensen; two sisters, Evelyn and Elinor, and brother-in-law, Rae Murray.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, David (Kim) Jensen of Cincinnati, Ohio; Cynthia South of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Richard (LuAnn) Jensen of Shelby, Iowa; Denise DeSchamp of Grimes, Iowa; and Garland Jensen (Donna Underwood) of Atlantic, Iowa; her eight grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and brother, Ronald (Kathy) Jensen of Branson, Missouri; as well as many nieces and nephews; other family, and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be directed towards cancer research.
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