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Ann Jenson
06/22/1933 — 11/04/2024
From Richland, WA | Born in Logan, UT
Funeral Service
Starts:
Mon, November 11, 2024, 11:00 am
Location:
Reception
Starts:
Mon, November 11, 2024, 12:00 pm
Location:
Graveside Service
Starts:
Mon, November 11, 2024, 1:30 pm
Location:
Sunset Gardens
915 Bypass Highway, Richland, WA 99352
Website:
Visit Sunset Gardens
Ann Jenson
L. Ann Nelson Jenson, daughter of RK and Zula Jensen Nelson, was born June 22, 1933 in Logan, Utah. She passed away November 4, 2024 in Anacortes, Washington.
At various times in her growing up years, she and her family lived in Logan, Salt Lake City, and Missouri, but most of her time was spent just outside of Montpelier, Idaho.
One notable early experience was helping to raise turkeys when she was about 5 years old. Her parents bought lots of young turkeys in the spring, planning to fatten them up on grasshoppers on their property near Montpelier, and then sell them at Thanksgiving. The problem was that the local coyotes wanted to eat the young turkeys. Ann and her brother William, two years older, had the responsibility of “herding” the turkeys, which meant being out with the turkeys on the hill. The coyotes wouldn’t come around if there were humans nearby. During this time, they lived in an old homesteader’s house without indoor plumbing. When their dad was away from home with the family car, they rode to church in a buggy.
Some of Ann’s elementary days were in Missouri, where her dad was working on a PhD. Other times she was in school in Montpelier.
Ann’s grandpa was the school bus driver when she was about 7 in Montpelier. That means he drove the nearby kids to school and back in his car. One day, he kept Ann and her siblings in the car until everyone else had been dropped off, and then he told them that their mom, his daughter, had been killed in a auto accident that morning. It was a difficult time, as RK was left with 5 children ranging from 9 years old down to very young. Zula’s parents, who lived just down the road, were a big help. The children had to help a lot too.
As a young girl, Ann participated in 4-H. Her recipe card for chocolate sauce, in her young handwriting, remained in the family recipe collection for decades. She also learned to do many farm chores, and to do work in the house. Her grandma helped her learn to sew. Ann had a hard time with treadling the sewing machine, so her grandma patiently sat next to her, doing the footwork while Ann sewed on the machine. Her grandma also taught her to crochet.
Ann was a good student. She was salutatorian of her high school graduating class. She also graduated from seminary.
After Ann graduated from high school, RK drove her over the mountain to Logan. He introduced her to some of his old professors at Utah State University, helped her find a place to live, and helped her find a job. Ann had a good time at college. She enjoyed good times with friends and roommates. Most of the time she lived just to the west of the campus.
Ann’s job was working in the chemistry department. The young men students in the department teased her until she signed up for a chemistry class. She was a lone female in the class. Her moment to shine came when the professor asked if anyone knew what made biscuits rise. She alone could answer that question.
One of the students in the chemistry department was Evan Jenson. He was from Brigham City and was the same age as Ann. They hit it off, and in 1954, they married in the Logan Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They each had one more year of schooling to earn bachelor’s degrees. Ann changed her major, which would have led to heading up a medical lab, to bacteriology, so that she could graduate at the same time as Evan.
Evan had a military commitment after ROTC, so the couple spent some time moving around the country. Their first child, Doug, was born before they left Logan. They spent time in San Antonio, Texas, then in Santa Monica, California, where their second child, Kaylene, was born. Next was Essex Junction, Vermont. That finished their military duty. Ann was adamant that they were both in the military. She said the wives took orders just like the men did.
After military service, the young family moved to State College, Pennsylvania. There Evan pursued a PhD in chemistry. Their third child, Mary Lynn, was born there.
Evan’s first job took them to Modesto, California. In the two years spent there, their youngest child, Gary, was born.
Ann was a full-time mom to her children. She read countless books to her kids, and instituted weekly library trips. She supervised homework once kids were in school. She policed musical instrument practice. She also made sure her kids could participate in scouting. She served as Cub Scout den leader, Brownie leader, and Girl Scout troop leader at various times. She made sure her children attended Primary at church, and accompanied them to church each Sunday.
She cooked a substantial breakfast daily, and made sack lunches for Evan and the kids daily once they started school. Family dinners happened daily. Fresh bread or cookies often greeted the family when returning home in the afternoon.
Ann also preserved fruit each fall, which was consumed throughout the year.
The family moved to Richland, Washington in 1966. After a year of renting, they purchased a lot on Austin Court and had a house built. When moving into the house, Ann calculated that
if she lived in that house for 99 years, she would equal the average number of years between moves for Americans of that day.
At times, Ann signed up for adult education classes. She did a woodworking class several times, building useful things for her home. She also learned to turn wood. She made several beautiful wooden bowls. She did an upholstery class more than once. Most of the furniture in the house was reupholstered by her. She refinished wooden furniture as well.
Some of the skills Ann developed include needlepoint, bargello, embroidery, smocking, hooking and braiding rugs, knitting and crocheting, sewing and tailoring and pattern changing, hand dyeing and tie dyeing, making dolls and stuffed animals, and others. The majority of her clothing, and her kids’ clothing, was sewn by her. She made wonderful bread. Her Christmas cookie plates delivered to neighbors were legendary.
Crafts and needlework were a large part of Ann’s life. For years she and a friend had a business, Gift Boutique, in Richland. They made and sold a variety of mostly sewn items. For a few years in the 1980s they were part of the Art Market which first was in Uptown, then later in an old building near the river and Howard Amon Park.
Ann’s greatest love was quilting. When her children were small, she made quilts for their beds. Later she pieced and hand quilted more elaborate quilts. She was involved with the Tri-City Quilt Guild for years. Some of her quilts won prizes in the county fair, one of which was best of show. She made many, many quilts, most of which were given as gifts. She taught numerous others to quilt, and promoted quilting in the Tri-Cities and beyond.
Ann was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for her entire life. She held many responsible positions in the church. Several of these were in the women’s Relief Society. She taught homemaking skills and ran the yearly bazaars for a while. She served in ward and stake leadership positions. She filled a broad assortment of other church responsibilities. After her husband’s death in 2008 she enjoyed working in the Columbia River Temple weekly for several years.
Throughout her life, Ann looked out for others around her who might need help. She visited those who were sick, often with food in hand. She helped with other people’s kids. She drove people places if they couldn’t drive themselves. She spent countless hours talking with and cheering up those in need.
The last six months of her life, Ann lived in Anacortes near her son and daughter in law.
She is survived by daughters Kaylene (Doug) Kane of Millcreek, Utah and Mary Lynn (William) Talbot of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and by her son Gary (Becky) Jenson of Anacortes, Washington, 14 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Doug Jenson, 2 granddaughters, and 3 siblings.
A funeral service will be held Monday, November 11, at 11 a.m. at the Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1720 Thayer Drive, Richland. Those attending are invited to stay after the funeral for visiting and refreshments in the church cultural hall.
In lieu of flowers, consider donating to Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels or to the LDS Humanitarian Aid fund.
We enjoyed Ann’s beautiful sewing skills and arwork at the bazaars. She and her husband were long time members of our church. Condlences go out to her family.
Burt and Joann Johnson
November 10, 2024
Richland
Ann and Evan and family were wonderful neighbors for years. We were sorry to se her move from Austin Ct to Anacortes, but knew it was good for her to be close to family. She will be greatly missed.
Gerald and Nancy Sorensen
November 7, 2024
Richland
Guestbook for
Ann Jenson