Mavis Joan Jensen

MAVIS JOAN JENSEN was born on February 4, 1933 to Bjorn Garfield and Beatrice (Bjerkestrand) Johnson in Nordland Township, near Minneota, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church in Minneota. She graduated from Minneota High School in 1951. On November 16, 1957 Mavis married Leon Jensen in Hope Lutheran Church. Their union was blessed with three children and 54 years of life together. The couple started farming near Tyler, Minnesota in 1959. Mavis worked at the Lyon County Treasurer’s Office, then began working at Citizens State Bank in Tyler. She took a break to raise her children before returning to the bank. When she and Leon retired from the farm in 1996 and moved to Danebod Village in Tyler, Mavis continued working at Citizen’s State Bank, putting in a total of 25 years before retiring. In 2011, she became a resident of Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Tyler. On June 19 Mavis entered Tyler Healthcare Center where, on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 she died at the age of 79 years, 4 months, and 16 days.

Mavis was a member of Danebod Lutheran Church, where she served as church treasurer, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, and was a part of WELCA, Danebod English Aid, and of the Evening Circle for 25 years. She served nine years on the Tyler School Board. She enjoyed dancing, bowling, Danish cross-stitch, and reading. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren.

Mavis is lovingly remembered by her husband, Leon; her three children: Andrew and his wife Laura of Tyler, Michael and his friend Penny of Mankato, Minnesota, and Peggy and her husband Tyrone Sik of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; four grandchildren: Gretchen and Crystal Jensen, and Nicholas and Nathan Sik; five brothers: Arlon Johnson and his wife Helen of Gary, South Dakota, Willis Johnson of Sioux Falls, Dorance Johnson and his wife Jackie of Wellington, Colorado, Francis Johnson of Minneota, and Merrill Johnson of Minneota,; sister, Jeanette Nelsen and her husband Lowell of Lake Benton, Minnesota; sisters-in-law Norma, Sue, and Nancy Johnson, all of Minneota, and Ellen Johnson of Antioch, California; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, B. Garfield and Beatrice; brothers Dennis, Marion (Joe), Allan and B. James Johnson; sister-in-law Thelma Kleinstein; brother- and sister-in-law Melvin and Elaine Jensen; and nephew Michael Johnson.