With heavy hearts, we announce that James D. Jensen, 88, of Sioux Falls, passed away at Sanford Hospice on October 12, 2023, following a brief illness.
Memorial Service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 19, at Miller Funeral Home Westside Chapel, 6200 W. 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD.
The family will be present to greet friends from 5 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 18 at the funeral home. For online obituary and guest register please go to the website at www. millerfh.com.
Jim was born at the family home in Viborg, SD, to Sam and Alice Jensen on August 14, 1935. He was proud to be 100% Danish.
In high school, Jim was a talented writer, musician (trombone) and athlete (baseball and basketball). He was so proud to be a member of Boy’s State. Jim graduated from Viborg High School in 1953. During his high school years, he worked for his dad at the Council Oaks Grocery in Viborg. Since there was no schoollunch back in the day, Jim and his dad would walk home every day to have an open-faced sandwich (the only way for a Dane) and cookie with Alice. Jim loved to talk about his mom’s good cooking and her superb baking. He thought the world of his mom.
Jim joined Terrace Park Dairy in the year following his high school graduation. Al and Ozzie Schock could see the potential in this fine young fellow. He started in the “can room” … worked his way through the plant, and then moved into sales - he was a natural. He was a milkman/supervisor in Mitchell, Watertown, and Sioux Falls. He became the Sales Manager in Sioux Falls, the General Sales Manager for all of Terrace Park Dairy, and finally was the Overall Manager for the Dairy. He loved working for the dairy. Through his experience, he has taught many of us the fine formalities of dealing with people in the workplace. Jim retired from the Dairy when Land O’ Lakes merged with Lakeside dairy. He then went to work for the South Dakota Lottery, and as Sales Manager, he established the delivery/ route system for all ticket sales in Eastern South Dakota. After 11 years working for the State, Jim finally retired in 1998, and has “served” his family in retirement ever since. He was such a hard worker and laid the foundation for all of us to believe that working hard pays off.
In his adult life, Jim liked golf, tennis, dirt bikes/motorcycles, and spending time with family. He loved to read suspense/ legal novels. He loved music (especially the City Band and Sousa marches) and enjoyed following Andy and Maggie in the Lincoln High School band and SDSU Pride of Dakotas Marching Band. Jim was a self-taught, creative carpenter: he drew his own plans and built many shelf units, tables, rocking horses, benches and cupboards. He was also a handyman extraordinaire - there was nothing he couldn’t fix and he taught many of those skills to his family.
Most people know that Jim was a baseball fan - in a world full of Red Sox/ Twins fans, he cheered for the NY Yankees. He was proud to announce that he’s been a Yankee fan for more than 80 years. We spent many nights watching the Yankees on MLB in the past few years. Jim and his mom would bet a quarter on the Yankees vs. Twins games. Jim managed to recruit Katie, Joey and Jase to wear Yankee gear. Carry on, Yankee fans!
And to say Jim loved to play cards is an understatement: Whist, Pinochle, Gin Rummy, King on the Corner, Old Maid, and Cribbage were his favorites. He coached his kids, partners, and opponents to be gracious in winning and losing. Jim was a good sport!
Jim put the “gentle” in gentleman. He will be remembered for his polite, courteous, and kind manner. We’ll miss his love and support; we will miss his consistent caring and dependability. We will miss hearing the grandkids say “Hi Pops!” as they come through the door. Jim was the ultimate role model. He brought out the best in all of us!
Grateful to share his life: his wife Melinda; children including Andy (Katie) Jensen; Maggie (Todd) Dvoracek; Tony (Lori) Jensen; Dan (Anndee) Jensen. His grandchildren: Easton, Joey, Crosby Jensen; Mya, Jase, Kash Dvoracek; Trace and Payton (Megan) Jensen; Grace and Bella Jensen; great-grandchildren Bryer and Stryker Jensen.
Jim was preceded in death by his loving parents and two brothers: Ralph and Maynard.
