March 25, 2009

Lester “Bud” T. Jensen

     Lester “Bud” T. Jensen, 86, a retired teacher who taught two generations of English and literature students at The Dalles High School, and a longtime resident of The Dalles, died at a local care facility on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.
     He was born in Denver, Colo., on June 5, 1922, the second of three children to Adolph and Lillian (Brand) Jensen. He grew up in Denver, Colo., and Minot, N.D. He graduated from Minot State Teachers College with a bachelor’s degree and University of Oregon with a master’s degree. He served with the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant junior grade in both World War II and the Korean War. He taught high school English and literature for 39 years at The Dalles High School.
     He married Betty Jane Mercer in Santa Ana, Calif., on April 2, 1944. They have lived in The Dalles for 60 years. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church (Trustee, Building Committee), OEA, NEA., USS Point Cruz Assoc., Wasco County Library Board, The Dalles Country Club and Kiwanis.
     He enjoyed golf, theater, photography, travel and literature.
     He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Jane Jensen; daughters, Helene Fremstad and her husband Fredrik, Knappa; and Christine Wallace and her husband James, The Dalles; daughter-in-law, Donna Jensen Lawrence, The Dalles; grandchildren, Kristian Fremstad and his wife Jennifer, Erik Fremstad, Stig Fremstad, Nathan Sutton, Scott Sutton, Stephen Sutton, Ashley Baker and her husband Mike, Amber Wallace, Greg Jensen and his wife Pam, and Jeff Jensen and his wife Jodie; great-grandchildren, Annik and Fridtjof Fremstad, Jaegar and Jacek Jensen, and Jadelyn Collum; his sister, Mildred McDonough and numerous nieces and nephews.
     He was preceded in death by his dear son Mark, his parents Adolph and Lillian, and his sister, Dorothy.
     Lester T. Jensen was interred on March 25, 2009 at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.
     A celebration of life will be held April 4, at 1 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in The Dalles.
     Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church Mortgage Fund or to The Dalles-Wahtonka High School Lester T. Jensen Scholarship Fund.