Riverton native Gerald K. Jensen died on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, in Belle Fourche, S.D. He was 80.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton, with Air National Guard Chaplain Wade Jensen officiating. Ceremonial honors will be conducted by Riverton Lodge No. 1693 B.P.O. Elks.
Military honors by the Riverton Veterans Services Organizations will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton.
A viewing will be held prior to the service from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at Kline Funeral Chapel in Belle Fourche with Deacon Ray Klein officiating. Gerald Kenneth Jensen was born in Riverton on March 21, 1929, the son of Chris and Elvine Marie (Hansen) Jensen. He was graduated from Riverton High School and attended a year of higher education at Dana College in Blair, Neb.
He enlisted in the United States Army on January 10, 1951 and served his basic training with the Signal Corps in Sacramento, Calif., and was later stationed at Camp Gordon, Georgia, and in Alaska. He was honorably discharged on January 9, 1953.
Following military service, Mr. Jensen attended a year at Casper College and then went to the University of Wyoming where he earned his Bachelor's degree.
He was of the Lutheran faith.
He married Bessie (Trosper) Ritchie in 1962. She preceded him in death on June 8, 1997.
In Riverton, Mr. Jensen pursued a career in insurance and real estate, owning the Jensen Insurance Agency until his retirement. Through his involvement with the Independent Insurance Agencies of America he traveled to many different states.
With the exception of his military duty, Mr. Jensen made Riverton his primary home until Sept. 1, 2005, when he moved to Belle Fourche to be closer to his brother and family.
The family said he enjoyed playing pinochle and the trips to the family cabin at Shade Hill. He also enjoyed spending time at the Belle Fourche Senior Center.
He was a life member of the Riverton Lodge No. 1693 B.P.O. Elks and served as Exalted Ruler and district deputy. He was also a life member of the Riverton Post of the American Legion and served as Commander and District Commander. Mr. Jensen was a life member of the Fremont County 40 and 8.
Survivors include a step-daughter, Bonnie Morganstean and husband Chuck of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and their three children, Mike, Pam, and Sherry; step-daughter, Elaine Erickson of Casper and her children David and his wife Ginger and their son and daughter of Rawlins; Bret of Colorado and his son; Jamie Ezell and her husband Jody of Billings and their son; Erin and his wife Beth and daughters; and son Robert and two sons; niece, Vicki Villanova of Casper and her sons Nick and Steve and granddaughter, Nash; nephew, Glenn and great nephew, Randy of California; a brother, Jack Jensen and his wife, Diana of Belle Fourche, S.D.; nephew, Wade Jensen and his wife Heather and daughter, Emily of the U.S. Air Force; nephew Brian Jensen and his wife Sara and their children Kristian and Rakelle of Hope, Idaho; nephew, Mike Jensen and his wife Nadine and daughter Isabelle and son Ethan of Tulsa, Okla.; nephew, Kenny Jensen of Spearfish, S.D.; niece, Jackie Britton and her husband Ben of Fort Collins, Colo.; nephew, Mark Jensen of Belle Fourche, S.D. and Glenn Jensen.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bessie; his parents, Chris and Elvine Jensen; brother Marion C. Jensen; step-son Shane Ritchie of Casper; nephew Randy Jensen.
Memorial donations may be made to the Wyoming Elks State Trust Youth Project, in care of Davis Funeral Home, 2203 W. Main, Riverton, WY 82501.
On-line obituaries are available and condolences for the family may be made at: thedavisfuneralhome.com
South Dakota services are under the direction of Kline Funeral Chapel in Bell Fourche.
Local services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton, with Air National Guard Chaplain Wade Jensen officiating. Ceremonial honors will be conducted by Riverton Lodge No. 1693 B.P.O. Elks.
Military honors by the Riverton Veterans Services Organizations will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton.
A viewing will be held prior to the service from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at Kline Funeral Chapel in Belle Fourche with Deacon Ray Klein officiating. Gerald Kenneth Jensen was born in Riverton on March 21, 1929, the son of Chris and Elvine Marie (Hansen) Jensen. He was graduated from Riverton High School and attended a year of higher education at Dana College in Blair, Neb.
He enlisted in the United States Army on January 10, 1951 and served his basic training with the Signal Corps in Sacramento, Calif., and was later stationed at Camp Gordon, Georgia, and in Alaska. He was honorably discharged on January 9, 1953.
Following military service, Mr. Jensen attended a year at Casper College and then went to the University of Wyoming where he earned his Bachelor's degree.
He was of the Lutheran faith.
He married Bessie (Trosper) Ritchie in 1962. She preceded him in death on June 8, 1997.
In Riverton, Mr. Jensen pursued a career in insurance and real estate, owning the Jensen Insurance Agency until his retirement. Through his involvement with the Independent Insurance Agencies of America he traveled to many different states.
With the exception of his military duty, Mr. Jensen made Riverton his primary home until Sept. 1, 2005, when he moved to Belle Fourche to be closer to his brother and family.
The family said he enjoyed playing pinochle and the trips to the family cabin at Shade Hill. He also enjoyed spending time at the Belle Fourche Senior Center.
He was a life member of the Riverton Lodge No. 1693 B.P.O. Elks and served as Exalted Ruler and district deputy. He was also a life member of the Riverton Post of the American Legion and served as Commander and District Commander. Mr. Jensen was a life member of the Fremont County 40 and 8.
Survivors include a step-daughter, Bonnie Morganstean and husband Chuck of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and their three children, Mike, Pam, and Sherry; step-daughter, Elaine Erickson of Casper and her children David and his wife Ginger and their son and daughter of Rawlins; Bret of Colorado and his son; Jamie Ezell and her husband Jody of Billings and their son; Erin and his wife Beth and daughters; and son Robert and two sons; niece, Vicki Villanova of Casper and her sons Nick and Steve and granddaughter, Nash; nephew, Glenn and great nephew, Randy of California; a brother, Jack Jensen and his wife, Diana of Belle Fourche, S.D.; nephew, Wade Jensen and his wife Heather and daughter, Emily of the U.S. Air Force; nephew Brian Jensen and his wife Sara and their children Kristian and Rakelle of Hope, Idaho; nephew, Mike Jensen and his wife Nadine and daughter Isabelle and son Ethan of Tulsa, Okla.; nephew, Kenny Jensen of Spearfish, S.D.; niece, Jackie Britton and her husband Ben of Fort Collins, Colo.; nephew, Mark Jensen of Belle Fourche, S.D. and Glenn Jensen.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bessie; his parents, Chris and Elvine Jensen; brother Marion C. Jensen; step-son Shane Ritchie of Casper; nephew Randy Jensen.
Memorial donations may be made to the Wyoming Elks State Trust Youth Project, in care of Davis Funeral Home, 2203 W. Main, Riverton, WY 82501.
On-line obituaries are available and condolences for the family may be made at: thedavisfuneralhome.com
South Dakota services are under the direction of Kline Funeral Chapel in Bell Fourche.
Local services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.