Kenneth "Ken" L. Jensen

WELCOME - Kenneth “Ken” Jensen, age 83, of Welcome, and formerly of Fairmont, Bloomington and Edina, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Friday, November 21, 2025, at his home.

A Funeral Mass will be held for Ken at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Fairmont, (901 S Prairie Ave, Fairmont, MN 56031) with Father Jeff Dobbs officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM prior to the service at the church. Ken’s service will be recorded and available to be viewed at his obituary page at www.sinnfuneralhome.com.

Ken’s family would like to thank Dr. Carina Crookston and the UHD - Hospice & Home Care team for the wonderful care that they provided for him.

The Sinn Family Celebration of Life Center of Trimont, Sherburn, and Welcome is assisting the family with arrangements.

Kenneth Leroy Jensen was born on April 7, 1942, to Irvin and Luella (Weis) Jensen in their family home in Halfa, Iowa. He grew up in the Ringsted area and graduated from Ringsted High School with the Class of 1960. After graduation, Ken worked in Superior, Iowa, where he helped build the local grain elevator. He later became a farm hand for Earl and Elsie Long - a wonderful couple who welcomed him into their lives and treated him like family.

Ken was united in marriage to Mary Olson on July 20, 1963, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Fairmont, MN. Ken and Mary made their home in Fairmont and were blessed with three children, Diane, David, and Daniel. Ken briefly worked at Gamble-Skogmo before beginning a long career at the Fairmont Municipal Liquor Store. After 24 years there, he transitioned to the Martin County Assessor’s Office, where he was responsible for assessing many of the smaller communities throughout the county. Ken retired in 1999 at the age of 56. Following retirement, he and Mary moved to the Twin Cities, where together they managed the condo complexes in which they lived in Bloomington and Edina.

Ken was known for his genuine friendship and remarkable memory - if he met you once, he never forgot your name. He was always ready to lend a hand and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He was a proud member of the Fairmont Lions Club, where he especially enjoyed volunteering at the Martin County Fair running the ring toss, as well as helping with the Fly-In Breakfast and the pull tabs. He also was instrumental in helping to form a Lions club in the City of Welcome, MN, and volunteered with the Lions organization at the District level, attaining the rank of Deputy District Governor. His faith was very important to him as well and served as a communion minister for St. John Vianney Church.

Ken was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He treasured the family that he and Mary built, and enjoyed time with his family most of all.

Ken will forever be missed by his loving wife of nearly 63 years, Mary; daughter, Diane Jensen and her children, Leigh Wendinger, Lauren (Mary Gacioch) Weber, and Kristen (Kory Mosher) Weber; son, David (Mary Pat) Jensen and their children, Skyler (Dillon Tradewell) Jensen and Lindey (Bennett King) Jensen; Dan’s children, Ryan (Shana) Jensen, Jenna (Mark) Lettow, and Anna (Zach) Lensing; great-grandchildren, Grayden and Jaxton Wendinger, Olivia Vanderhoof, Brayden and Dakota Jensen, and Henrik, George, and Arlyn Lettow; brother, Virgil (Shirley) Jensen; sister, Karen (Tom) Polking; sister-in-law, Cheryl McGuire; Godchildren, Sarah McGuire, Lisa Jensen, Shari (Kory) Hines, and Scott (Cindy) Schons; bonus daughter, Jeanne (Kori Moeller) Patton and her children, Nyah, Arie, Lian, and Zeus; former daughters-in-law, Mary Wittmus and Amy Jensen, many nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Ken was preceded in death by his son, Dan Jensen; parents, Irvin and Luella; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Elmer and Alice (Cihak) Olson; brothers, Ronald (Sharon) Jensen, Roger (Janice) Jensen, and Jerry Jensen; brothers-in-law, Gerald (Evon) Olson, Ronald Olson, Tom McGuire; aunts, uncles, and cousins.