Dorothy Jensen

Dorothy Jean Jensen, always known as "Jean," peacefully passed away September 20, 2017, at Lincoln Court Retirement Community. Jean was the beloved wife of Sterling A. Jensen. Born in Taylor, Idaho, on October 2, 1922, Jean had almost reached her 95th birthday. Her parents, Malvern and Lillian Gerrard, raised their four daughters in Utah and Nebraska before moving to Osgood, Idaho, where Mal farmed potatoes, wheat and sugar beets. Jean graduated from Ammon High School. During the war years, Jean moved to Bountiful, Utah, and worked in a small arms plant in Salt Lake City. Her job was to inspect cartridges and bullets. In each shift, she was required to inspect 25,000 cartridges and bullets by rolling them through her fingers. She thought it was boring work, but useful to the war cause. In 1945, she returned to Idaho Falls where she worked at Fogg Drug. It was there that she met a young Air Corps Lieutenant, Sterling A. Jensen. She tells in her memoirs that while she didn’t particularly like him, he was someone to go to dances, dinners, and movies with. However, they were soon engaged and married on May 8, 1946. Jean and Sterling and their two daughters, Kathryn and Susan, were later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple in October 1965. The couple just celebrated their 71st anniversary. First and foremost, Jean was a lady. She always dressed smartly, carried a handkerchief, powdered her nose and wore suits and heels as often as possible. Jean wasn’t flashy, but she was classy. She loved to play bridge with her dear friends, work in her back yard and rose garden, and bake bread. Those who were lucky to be her friend, knew that Jean didn’t have a mean bone in her body. Gossip never came through her. She was a real lady. Jean was adored by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. During these last years, it was their presence that perked her up and put a delightful smile on her face. She might not remember their names, but she knew their faces and recognized their love for her. Until the end, it was always her family and friends who buoyed her spirits and her sweet smile which uplifted theirs. Jean was preceded in death by her daughter, Susan Lane Kinghorn, three sisters and her parents. She is survived by her beloved Sterling, her daughter, Kathryn (Steve) Chin, son-in-law, Randy Kinghorn, four grandchildren, Justin (Shauna) Kinghorn, Natalie (Tony) Lowe, Sterling Gregory (Hadley) Chin and Alyssa (James) Dever, and her 13 great grandchildren. The family expresses their deep thanks to Lincoln Court and OneSource Home Health and Hospice for their kind affection and loving care of Jean through these past few years. Jean was a wonderful woman, dedicated mother and lived a good long life. She and Sterling exemplified true love and devotion to each other. Graveside services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, 2017, at Taylor Cemetery. The family will visit with friends from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Avenue, prior to services at the cemetery.

Graveside Services will be held