Jensen, Frederick C. 1878-1947

JENSEN, PETERSEN, PETERSON, OLIVER, SOWERS

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/23/2017 at 21:48:52

Note: His mother's maiden name is Petersen or Peterson.

BURIAL RITES ARE HELD FOR FORMER AKRON RESIDENT

Fred C. Jensen Had Been Active Citizen Of Belle Fourche, S. D.

From a Belle Fourche, S. D., newspaper of November 27, 1947, is taken the following obituary of a former resident of Akron vicinity:

Funeral service for Fred Jensen, pioneer blacksmith and former city council member who passed away Monday night at the local hospital will be held at the Methodist church Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock. Rev. L. A. Johnson will officiate at the service, assisted by the local Odd Fellows lodge, f which the deceased had been a member. Pall bearers will be from that fraternity.

Frederick C. Jensen was born March 2, 1878, in Denmark, coming to this country when a child of five years of age. The family settled near Akron, Iowa. When a young man about 20 years old, Fred came to Butte County, his first employment here being on the ranch of the late Peter Vallery. A few years later he came into Belle Fourche and took employment in the blacksmith shop of Sherry Austin, later purchasing the business. Mr. Jensen disposed f this business in 1934 t his stepson, Ray Oliver.

Mr. Jensen became a member of the Belle Fourche fire department on December 6, 1912, and at the time of his passing he was the oldest active member on the membership roll, and for many years he was president of the company, and previous to that position, its vice president. He was a member of the city council for ten years, representing the second ward, his first election being in 1936, when Belle Fourche changed from commission to the present type of municipal government. During his five terms as council member, Fred was an active member of several council committees.

Fraternally, Fred was affiliated with both the Encampment and subordinate bodies of the Odd Fellows Lodge, the Rebekah Lodge, and of the Knights of Pythias. He became a member of I.O.O.F. Canton branch a Lead. Fred served as Noble Grand in 1920 and for twenty years was on the I. O.O.F. board of trustees. He also served as Chief Patriarch of the local Encampment, and in 194- was Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of South Dakota. Mr. Jensen was one of the Black Hills leaders in establishing the I.O.O.F. camp area at Nemo, and in all his civic and personal enterprises exemplified an active interest in all movements that were for the general welfare of all.

Mr. Jensen was married October 12, 1910, in Belle Fourche to Mrs. Lois Oliver, and in 1932 was married to Mrs. Margaret Sowers.

Survivors are one brother Chris F. Jensen, and one sister Mrs. Annie Frerichs, both of Akron, Iowa, and a stepson, Ray Oliver, of Belle Fourche, S. D., who is now operating the former Jensen’s Blacksmith Shop.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, December 18, 1947
Akron, Iowa