Jensen, Leanna A. (1907 - 2012)

JENSEN, JACOBSEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/18/2013 at 18:53:42

Leanna A. Jensen - Age 104

Leanna Almira Jensen, daughter of Clarence and Metta Marie "Mary" (Jensen) Jacobsen was born on October 5, 1907, in Shelby County, Iowa. She attended country school and graduated from Harlan High School in 1927, living with another family so she could stay in Harlan and be near the school. She received a salary of fifty cents a week to do the housework while she lived there. In 1913, their family experienced the complete destruction of their farmstead by a tornado which Leanna often talked about in later years. Following her high school graduation, Leanna hired out to a family in the area.

On June 12, 1927, Leanna married a young farmer named Einer Jensen who worked on a farm east of Harlan. They were secretly married as couples often did in those times and both continued in their separate jobs six months after they were married by a justice of the peace. They rented land and began farming, living in the Rabbit Hollow area during elementary school days of the three boys born to their union: Floyd, Kenneth, and Jim.

They later purchased land west and south of Elk Horn, paying for it in three years as the Depression Years were over by that time. Those were the years they ran a grade A dairy, being among the first to have a modern milking parlor which was featured in a newspaper article. In 1967, Einer retired from farming and they moved to a brick house, built by their son Floyd, on Farnam Circle.

Leanna worked hard in the farming operation, picking corn by hand in the earlier days and living on egg checks when corn sold for ten cents a bushel. In her journal, she says they had fun anyway. They celebrated birthdays in the neighborhoods where they lived and had parties, vacationing to Lake Okoboji with friends in the summer. On Saturday nights, they went to town and the boys were given money which they often used to go to the picture show for a dime. When Jim reached the age of 12, he looked older so the owner said "no admittance". Leanna saw Jim sitting in the car and marched him to the theatre owner, telling him Jim certainly was only 12. Jim got in the theatre. Leanna was a forceful woman but kind, with a big smile for all.

Leanna made crocheted afghans for babies, graduations, and weddings. One count was seventeen Afghans for all her California grandchildren and spouses. She sent birthday money out with Kenneth when he visited Iowa so they each received $5.00 from her when he came home to California again. Leanna was an excellent housekeeper, often saying she was the "hired help" named Annie. Her windows were kept sparkling clean! When she retired and moved to town, she joined the women’s’ group at the First Baptist Church, where she was a charter member for fifty-three years. She and Einer entertained friends, playing the Rook card game and dominoes with their "Gang". You never left her house without an offer of coffee which would be accompanied by many goodies.

Leanna died at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan at the age of one hundred four years, three months, and two days. She was preceded in death by her husband of over fifty years; Einer Jensen, her parents, seven brothers, three sisters and one daughter-in-law, Myrtle.

Survivors include her sons, Floyd Jensen and his wife LaVale of Apache Junction, Arizona, Kenneth Jensen of Hesperia, California, and Jim Jensen and his wife Jane of rural Harlan; fourteen grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 13 great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Pastor Dan Hawn officiated the 11:00 AM funeral service at First Baptist Church in Harlan, Iowa, on Saturday, January 14, 2012. Serving as casket bearers were Carol Mack, Julie Jensen, Jerry Jensen, Jeff Ward, Greg Jensen, John Jensen, and Leroy Larsen. Interment was held at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa.

Source: pauleyjones.com (Pauley Jones Funeral Home)
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