Thomas Jensen

Thomas Lynn Jensen was born in Ephraim, Utah, on 1 May 1938 to Evart J. Jensen and Ruth Kjar.  He passed away on 27 November 2017 during a brief hospital stay at Utah Valley Hospital.  He married the new girl in town, Marie Holm, on 19 April 1958.  She passed away on 15 February 2014 in Orem, Utah. They have three children: Thomas Mitchell (Sally) of American Fork, Robert Lynn (Debbie) of Orem, and Joy Marie Coombs (Micah) of Logan. They are also survived by 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Tom and Marie were so grateful for each and every addition to the family.

Tom was raised in Ephraim and was a member of the last graduating class from Ephraim High School.  He worked on the family farm until venturing to Ft. Ord, California, for six months of military training in 1956.  After returning to Ephraim and marrying Marie, he graduated from Snow College and Utah State University achieving a degree in Range Management and a minor in Botany.  He spent numerous hours collecting and identifying plants in Utah, Northern Nevada, and Northern Arizona.  After graduating from college, he accepted a position with the Bureau of Land Management in Cedar City, Utah, followed by job assignments in Washington County, Utah; Arizona strip BLM District; Fillmore, Utah; and the Utah State BLM Office in Salt Lake City, Utah.  He commuted from Orem to Salt Lake for nine years.  Tom coached youth baseball and basketball in most of these locations.

After retiring from the BLM in late September 1995, Tom returned to the family farm near Fayette, Utah, and became involved in a pheasant hunting operation (Pheasant Run Outfitters). He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various callings such as scoutmaster, Sunday School president, Ward Clerk, and a youth Sunday School Teacher, an assignment that he really enjoyed.

Tom was a man of few words and taught by example, marked by an ability for making the most of opportunities through kind and compassion actions and by taking life’s challenges in stride.  At the farm, he was seldom seen without a dog or two at his side. He spent numerous hours compiling handwritten books of articles, poems, notes, thoughts and reflections and was known for such thoughts as: always do your best,  you’ve got to want to, you never know, deal with it, perceive—believe—achieve, it is what it is.

He was a devoted family man, striving for love, joy and harmony capped by well-being and happiness.  His motto was life is mostly about relationships, knowledge, and service. The assistance of his sister-in-law, Suzanne Blakesley, during family times of need was greatly appreciated. She capably and willingly gave a helping hand during many times of trials and distress and often left her home in Arizona to provide needed family assistance in Utah. She came and joined in service with his devoted housekeeper, Laura Corpus. As Tom often stated, “Life goes on.”

Funeral services will be held Saturday 2 December 2017 at the LDS church located at 575 South 400 West in Orem, Utah, at 10 am. Family and Friends may call at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary located at 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah, Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and again at the church on Saturday morning one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in the Ephraim, Utah, cemetery Saturday afternoon.

Condolences to the family may be left on this page.