Beverly Jensen

Beverly (Bev) Jensen, 90, passed away on April 4, 2025.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Evanger Lutheran Church, 5455 98th St. NW, Kenmare, ND.  A video livestream will be made available right here to watch the Celebration of Life in real-time.

She was born on February 18, 1935. She grew up in Sherwood, ND and attended school there graduating as Valedictorian of her class. She spent her childhood summers working on her grandparents farm in the Mohall area. It was during this time that she formed a special bond with her Aunt Millie and enjoyed learning and working alongside her. Upon graduating from Sherwood High School, Bev was a bookkeeper at an Implement dealership in Sherwood.

Beverly met Orville Jensen while on a Luther League bus trip to Seattle. They quickly became sweethearts and were united in marriage on July 25, 1954. They lived on the Jensen family farm with Orville’s parents for several years until purchasing their farm in the spring of 1963.

Beverly and Orville worked side by side farming for over 45 years. Bev took great pride in maintaining her home, yard, many flower gardens and her big vegetable garden. She was a wonderful cook and baker and always had fresh buns, caramel rolls, “patch bars”, cookies and many baked goods when anyone would visit. Her grandchildren have very fond memories of harvesting the garden vegetables and fruits with her, baking, and learning how to embroider dish towels. She loved spending time with her family and enjoyed countless sleepovers with her grandchildren. 

Beverly’s faith was very important to her. She was a member of Evanger Lutheran Church, rural Kenmare. She devoted many hours to helping at the church including being a Sunday school and Bible school teacher, assisting with Luther League, quilting with the women’s group and serving numerous meals for various church functions. She also enjoyed bowling on a women’s league in Kenmare, playing games of all kinds, putting together puzzles, attending picnics and family functions.

Beverly’s greatest joy was her family, her sons, daughter-in-laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Together, she and Orville raised four sons, Randy, Barry, Kenny and Mark. She loved attending many activities and school functions for her children and all of her grandchildren. They also enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends across the United States. Every July they celebrated their anniversary by attending the Medora Musical.

In September of 2021, Beverly and Orville sold their family farmstead and moved to Bismarck. They were residents of Prairie Pointe Assisted Living until Orville’s passing in February 2023. After this Beverly became a treasured resident at the Baptist Home in Bismarck, ND.

Beverly was the epitome of kindness and love, showing compassion and empathy to everyone she met. She made everyone around her feel “special” and everyone was her “Pal”. She will be deeply missed.

Her loving family includes her son Barry Jensen (Tracy) Hazen, ND; Kenny (Sarah) Jensen, Norwich, NY; Mark (Michelle) Jensen, Bismarck, ND. Grandchildren Amber (Keith) Heitzig, Bowbells, ND; Jessica Berg (Bill), Bismarck, ND; Adam (Toni) Jensen, Bowbells, ND; Miranda (Cody) Evanson, Lincoln, ND; Mallory (Hunter) Humann, Bismarck, ND; Matthew Jensen, Bismarck, ND; Alex Jensen, Denver, CO. Great grandchildren Taylor Mahlum, Victoria, MN; Lexi Mahlum, Fargo, ND; Chelsea Woodbeck, Bismarck, ND; Sydney Berg, Bismarck, ND; Mya Woodbeck, Grand Forks, ND; Ian Berg, Bismarck, ND; and Gregory Jensen, Bowbells, ND. Her in-laws Roger (Annie) Jensen, Minot, ND; Virginia (Larry) Emmel, Kenmare, ND and David (Candy) Jensen, Kenmare, ND and many special nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, Orville; her son Randy; her parents Edna and Herman Smith and her in-laws Oscar & Tilla Jensen; brothers Truman (Joann) Smith and Victor Smith; infant siblings Walter and Hazel and other special family members.

Beverly's family would like to thank the staff at the Baptist Home for their care and compassion.