Tom Ellis Jenness

Tom died of natural causes on August 4, 2025 in Star, Idaho. He was born on October 23, 1939 in Bismarck, North Dakota. He was the son of Ellis Warren Jenness and Marie Alice Wetzel. He was the third of three children. His father did farm work and his mother was the Post Mistress in Hensler, North Dakota. When Tom was five years old, the family moved to Billings, Montana where he grew up and graduated from high school.

In the fall of 1957, Tom attended Eastern Montana College in Billings, Montana. On June 13, 1958, he married Mary Jeanne Workman in the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He then attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and graduated in 1962. He taught at Olympus High School in Salt Lake for two years and then returned to BYU to complete his Master’s Degree, with a major in speech and a minor in political science.

He then taught as the debate coach at Western Washington State College in Bellingham, Washington. This was followed by three years of teaching at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1969 he accepted a job as Professor at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. He taught there for 29 years in the School of Communication. He was a master teacher and loved interacting with the university students on a daily basis. He was a self-motivated, energetic person, with an internal drive who strove for personal excellence in his every endeavor. He had a listening ear and communicated well with people. He liked to tell “grandpa” jokes and make people smile.

Tom and Mary Jeanne became the parents of five children: Kathleen, Richard Lynn, Tom Eric, James David, and Mary Jennifer.

He enjoyed many activities in life such as working for the Forest Service in the summertime, playing baseball with his family, raising animals on the farm, serving in his church, theater and musicals, family history, attending the temple, and golf.

Following retirement he served as the Palmyra New York Education Center Director for two years. Then he served as the Career Development Director at Southern Virginia University from 2009, 2012-2015.

Outside of work and family, Tom served faithfully in various positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Among these positions were Bishop, Stake High Councilman, Stake Clerk, Cub Scout Committee Chairman, Primary Teacher, Seminary Teacher, Sunday School Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Spokane Temple Worker, Coeur d’Alene Employment Service Missionary, and a Pathway Service Missionary.

Tom married Carolé Lorraine Black November 19, 1994 in Boise, Idaho. He became the step father to Everett Harrington Black IV, Travis Daniel, Tara Dawn, and Matthew David Black.

He was a devoted husband, father, brother, son and friend. His children were his greatest treasure!

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolé Lorraine, his father, mother, sister, brother, son James David, step son Benjamin Lansford Black, grandsons Tom Ellis Fritzley, Richard Donald Fritzley, and Matthew Tyler Jenness, and wife Mary Jeanne Workman. He is survived by his, four children, sixteen grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, four step children, twenty-two step grandchildren, and ten step great grandchildren.

His dying wish is that his children will attend the temple as much as possible. His favorite scripture is Isaiah. 61: 1-3 Personal Advice: “Love With All Your Heart”

Viewing will be Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 10:00 am at The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints located at 484 S Main St, Star, ID 83669 followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am. A burial will be held on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 12:00 PST at Moscow, Idaho Cemetery, 1650 Troy Road, Moscow, Idaho. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bowmanfuneral.com