Marilynn J. (Olson) Jensen
Marilynn J. (Olson) Jensen, 89, died Monday, July 5, 2010, at Prosser Memorial Long Term Care. Born in Ortonville, Minn., on February 7, 1921, to Oscar and Beulah (Dodds) Olson, Marilynn was the oldest of four siblings. After graduating from Clinton High School, she attended State Teacher’s College at Moorhead, Minn., receiving her teaching certification in 1940. She taught in several rural Minnesota schools, boarding with locals. In 1946, after meeting a fellow teacher on a train, she received an offer to come teach in Sunnyside.
She taught first grade at Denny Blaine School in Sunnyside until the end of the 1948-49 school year, when she began a new adventure. On December 31, 1948, she went on a blind date with Sherman Jensen of Bickleton. They married on August 14, 1949, and shared over 60 years of living and loving. They had four children. Marilynn loved teaching and loved knowing she had a hand in the education of hundreds of students. She returned to teaching after her third child entered school, spending many years teaching elementary school students in Bickleton.
Marilynn was a devoted Christian, wife, mother and grandmother. She loved to read and was a competitive Scrabble and Skip-Bo player. She is survived by her husband, Sherman Jensen of Bickleton; son Peter Jensen (Jacqueline); daughters Kristi Roberts, Lise Ott (Norman) and Jeanna Jensen; six grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers, Curtiss Olson (Opal) of Clinton, Minn., and Laurel Olson (Margaret) of Hutchinson, Minn.; and her sister, Glenda Minerman (Roger) of Thane, Wyo.
A celebration of Marilynn’s life will be held at Bickleton Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to Bickleton Presbyterian Church or to the charitable organization of your choice.
