Jerry M. Jensen, 50, died on Sunday, March 20, 2005 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, March 25, 2005 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Reverend Terri Cuppett officiating. Burial will be in Clara Cemetery, River Falls Township, Pennington Co., MN.

Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 24, 2005 at the Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a 5:30 P.M. prayer service on Thursday evening.

Jerry Mark Jensen was born on May 30, 1954 in Thief River Falls, MN, the son of Max and Ina (Crown) Jensen. He was baptized at home and confirmed at Ekelund Lutheran Church. He attended school in Goodridge, MN, graduating from Goodridge High School in 1972. Following school he stayed home to help on the farm.

Jerry was united in marriage to Nancy Marti on October 11, 1975 in St. Hilaire, MN. In 1975 he started his work career with the Street Department in Thief River Falls, where he has continued to work. Jerry was a very dependable, hard working man.

Jerry loved life; he enjoyed watching and playing sports, baseball in summer and basketball in winter. He loved spending time outside, gardening, bird watching, hunting squirrels and tending his cows. Jerry loved lefse. He was a very unique man; he could ride a bicycle backwards and ride a unicycle. Jerry loved and appreciated his family, and loved to tell jokes and stories. He enjoyed playing the accordion, guitar and singing. Jerry had a wonderful sense of humor and had fun, no matter what. He was always ready for any adventure and could make any situation positive.

He was a member of St. Pauli Lutheran Church.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Nancy of Thief River Falls, MN; two children: Jason (Carrie) Jensen and Kelsey Jensen, both of Thief River Falls, MN; three grandchildren: Brandi, Tyler and Austin Jensen; his mother, Ina Jensen of Thief River Falls, MN; sisters and brothers: Janice (Herb) Vettleson of Thief River Falls, MN, Karen (Andy) Peterson of Oklee, MN, Glen (Dolores) Jensen of Goodridge, MN, Donald (Danette) Jensen of Goodridge, MN, Kendall (Renae) Jensen of Thief River Falls, MN, Kermit (Verlene) Jensen of Warroad, MN and Joani (David) Frederick of Goodridge, MN; God-daughter, Pamela Frederick of Fargo, ND; mother-in-law, Lois T. Russell of Carrollton, Missouri; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Marilyn Moen of Waukon, Iowa, Paul (Mary) Marti of Decorah, Iowa, Cheryl Stussy of Norwalk, WI, Sarah Hovden of Buena Vista, CO, Kathy Coughlin of Norwalk, WI, Norman (Tanya) Marti of Marshall, MO, Helen Fisher of Kansas City, MO and Gloria (Glen) Degenhardt of Norwalk, WI; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Max Jensen; brother, Dennis Jensen; sister, Lois Jensen; grandparents: Ejnar and Mary Jensen and Lloyd and Elvina Crown; grand niece, Alliyah Jensen; and nephew, John Frederick; brother-n-law, Phillip Marti; and sister-in-law, Teresa Jensen.

Family condolences may be sent by visiting www.johnsonfuneralservice.net
ARRANGEMENTS WITH JOHNSON FUNERAL SERVICE, THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN, 218-681-4331, FAX NUMBER, 218-681-4534
ORGANIST: Ida Nordvall
DUET: Lois Anderson and Lois Peterson, Just A Closer Walk With Thee and Come to the Church in the Wildwood
SPECIAL MUSIC: Cathy Erickson (Visitation and prayer service)
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Beautiful Savior # and Amazing Grace #
CASKETBEARERS: Les Iverson, Blair Gustafson, Roger Meunier, Donovan Erlanson, Doug Martell and John Houske
HONORARY CASKETBEARES: Virgil DeFreece, Norman Blackstad, Val Schill, Lyle Olson and all of Jerrys family and friends.