It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved David Allen Jensen on October 7, 2024.
Dave was born on March 18, 1948 in Idaho Falls, ID. His family moved to Boise, ID in 1950 where he went to kindergarten in 1954. They moved again in 1955 to Fort Peck, MT where he attended elementary school from the 1 st to 8 th grade. He also attended the first 2 ½ years of high school in nearby Glasgow, MT.
He spent his summers living with and working for his maternal grandparents, Rudolph and Hedvig Nelson, on their farm in Idaho Falls, ID. His grandfather was also a flight instructor and taught him to fly. He became a licensed private pilot at the age of 16.
That same year, his father’s job took them to Bellevue, WA where he attended the last 1 ½ years of high school. Since he was a WA resident, he applied and was accepted at the University of Washington in Seattle. He received a forestry degree in 1970. While not being sure what he wanted to do with his life and being adventurous, he flew to Germany where he took a job as a work student for about a year. This was accomplished with the assistance of German friends of his mother. Upon returning to the United States, he decided to become a civil engineer and enrolled in the engineering program at the University of Washington. He graduated with a civil engineering degree two years later.
After graduating, he moved to Anchorage, AK where his parents then lived. He went to work for the US Army Corps of Engineers.
In June of 1974, he met Sherry Beck who became his soulmate and wife of 48 years. They married on February 27, 1976.
Seven months later, Dave applied for and accepted a position with the Corps of Engineers in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. He and Sherry did a lot of overseas traveling while based in Saudi Arabia. Eighteen months later, they returned to AK where they had a home built in Wasilla on property they already owned.
He loved to fly and owned his own airplane for most of the years he lived in AK. He flew on wheels, skis and floats. He was a very adept and safe pilot. He and Sherry built a fly-in cabin on a lake where they spent a lot of time, along with family and friends.
In 1980, he went to work for Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. He was employed there for 28 years.
In 1982 he acquired his masters degree in arctic engineering by attending evening classes at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
He made many good friends over the years and stayed in contact with most of them.
He returned to work for Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. for 8 years as a contractor in the summer months.
He and Sherry bought a vacation home in AZ and spent their winters there from 2008 to 2023. They liked to go on motor home vacations to various other states from there.
After being AK residents for 47 years, they sold their Wasilla home and moved to Emmett, ID in 2019 where they built their dream home on 7 acres overlooking the Emmett valley. He stayed quite busy during the summer months there. He was very happy throughout his life.
Unfortunately Dave and Sherry were never blessed with children, but they borrowed and enjoyed nieces and nephews frequently.
Dave is survived ty his wife, Sherry Jensen, Emmett, ID; four Yorkies, Micki, Lexi, Gracie and Emmi; his sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Terry Smith, Parma, ID; brother-in-law, Paul Pinard (June Holder), Wasilla, AK; nephews, PJ Pinard, Wasilla, AK, Aaron Smith (Tamara Beck), McCall, ID, and Christopher Pinard (KC Colon), Wasilla, AK; nieces, Suzanne Fullmer (Jim Fullmer), Cle Elum, WA and Andrea Lee (Jake Lee), Twin Falls, ID; great nephews, Brandon Fullmer, Mercer Island, WA, Wyatt Smith, Middleton, ID, Matthew Fullmer, Golden, CO and Jack Fullmer, Cle Elum, WA; great nieces Addison Smith, Middleton, ID, Kennedy Fullmer, Cle Elum, WA and Kathryn Gregg, Twin Falls, ID; and several extended family members (too many to name but important nonetheless).
He was preceded in death by his infant brother, Paul Jensen, his mother, Rhea Jensen and his father Allen Jensen.
We have no doubt Dave is in Heaven with the Lord and continuing to do the good deeds he was known for here on earth. He is still loved and missed by all who knew him, most especially his family.