Orville Jensen

Orville (Or) Jerome Jensen, 87, passed away on February 7, 2023, from a brief cancer illness. 

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 PM, Friday, Feb. 17, at Evanger Lutheran Church, 5455 98^th Street NW, Kenmare, ND.

Burial will be held at a later date.

He was born on April 22, 1935, to Oscar & Tilla Jensen in rural Kenmare.  He was the second of four children.  He attended country school at Rockford #4 in rural Kenmare. 

Orville met Beverly Smith while attending a Luther League trip to Seattle.  They quickly became sweethearts and were united in marriage on July 25, 1954. They lived on the family farm with Orville’s parents for several years until purchasing their farm in the spring of 1963.  Orville & Beverly worked side by side farming for 37 years; primarily raising small grains and a flock of sheep.   Orville took great pride in working on and maintaining his farm.  Orville’s family was his greatest accomplishment.  Together he and Beverly raised four boys: Randy, Barry, Kenny and Mark. 

In addition to farming, in the early 1960’s, Orville worked as a laborer for Peter Kiewit Construction helping to install missile sites in the area.   When Orville was not busy with farming, he was doing carpentry work.  He worked as a laborer with multiple trades to build the Kenmare High School.  He spent many years working for Butch Wittman building and remodeling numerous homes in the Kenmare/Bowbells area. 

Orville’s faith was very important to him.  He was a lifetime member of Evanger Lutheran Church, rural Kenmare, and he also helped construct the present church.  He served as usher and on church boards for many years and also helped to maintain the church yard and cemetery.

Orville’s biggest joy was his family: his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Orville and Beverly attended as many activities and school functions for their family as they could.  They also enjoyed attending the Medora Musical and the Gospel program every summer for their anniversary.  Orville enjoyed numerous hobbies such as woodworking, bowling on a league for many years, playing cards, shooting pool, completing puzzles and playing games with family.  He and Beverly also enjoyed attending family gatherings and summer picnics.

In Sept. of 2021, Orville and Beverly sold their family farmstead and moved to Prairie Pointe Assisted Living in Bismarck, ND.   Orville especially enjoyed the time he spent shooting pool with newly found friends at Prairie Pointe.

Orville was a strong, hard-working man with a heart of gold.  He always set a wonderful example for his family.  He will be deeply missed.

His loving family includes his wife, Beverly, of 68 years, Barry, Hazen ND; and friend, Tracy Lux, Bismarck, Kenny (Sarah) Jensen, Norwich, NY, and Mark (Michelle) Jensen, Bismarck; grandchildren, Amber (Keith) Heitzig, Bowbells, Adam (Toni) Jensen, Bowbells, Jessica Berg (Bill, friend) Bismarck, Alex Jensen, Denver, CO, Miranda (Cody) Evanson, Lincoln, ND, Mallory Jensen, Bismarck, and Matthew Jensen, Fargo; great-grandchildren, Taylor Mahlum, Victoria, MN, Lexi Mahlum, Grand Forks, ND, Chelsea Woodbeck, Bismarck, ND, Sydney Berg, Bismarck, Mya Woodbeck, Bowbells,  Ian Berg, Bismarck, and Gregory Jensen, Bowbells;  siblings, Roger (Annie) Jensen, Minot, Virginia (Larry) Emmel, Kenmare and David (Candy) Jensen, Kenmare; and numerous nieces and nephews.  

Orville was preceded in death by his son, Randy Jensen; parents, Oscar and Tilla Jensen; mother-in-law, Edna Jensen; nephew, Mike Emmel; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Special thank you to the staff at Prairie Pointe Assisted Living for their kindness and wonderful care and making Orville and Beverly feel at home and to Hospice of the Red River Valley.