Gwynda Jensen

Gwynda Anne Lindsey Jensen, 76, died June 3, 2014. She passed away exactly one year to the day when she lost Allen, her husband of 49 years.

She was born July 24, 1937 to Vernice Otto Bowers and Cecil Lindsey.

Gwynda was raised in Upshur County east Texas and Arizona. From an early age she showed the intelligence, talent and stubbornness that would define her character. As a child she was often asked to sing and perform. She graduated from high school early and at the age of 16, enrolled in Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She majored in Speech and Drama. She was the first member of her family to attend and graduate from college.

After university, she taught high school English, speech and drama for several years in Salt Lake County. She was a born educator and often said that she loved teaching so much that she would gladly pay for the chance to do it.

She met her future husband, Allen Jensen, at a dance in Salt Lake. Allen was afraid to approach her because he was convinced she was only 16—she was 26. They were married in the LDS Salt Lake Temple June 5, 1964.

Gwynda was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in numerous positions in the Sunday School, Primary and Relief Society including Stake Relief Society President. Her teaching and speaking abilities were often called on in service of the church she loved. She was a compassionate visiting teacher and would go to great lengths to help the unfortunate, those who struggled and did not fit in. She loved to tell people about her faith. She often welcomed the chance to debate religion and politics with her children’s friends.

She loved music and spent hours playing the piano and accompanying her children as they sang. For most of her life she crocheted non-stop. Those closest to her have afghans and doilies she made for them. One of her greatest heartbreaks came when arthritis took away her ability to play the piano and crochet.

To her the role of mother was the greatest honor any person could hold. She gave up her teaching career to be a stay at home mom. She loved her children terribly, as she was fond of saying.

Gwynda struggled with her health most of her life, especially in her final years. During this time she lived for the visits she would have from her grandkids or the children of friends. Her family wishes to express their most sincere thanks to the dedicated staff of professionals and volunteers at Rocky Mountain Care who compassionately and patiently helped care for Gwynda in the trying final years of her life. They also wish to thank the family members who visited her and cared for the Jensen home and business properties in Lyman during her long illness after her husband’s death. Their love and support are appreciated more than words can express.

Gwynda leaves behind her children, Shane and Hollie Jensen of Santa Clara, UT, Melani and Randy Smith of Idaho Falls, ID, and Jon Jensen of New York, NY; her sister, Betty Lou Wilson, brother-in-law Leon Wilson; her beloved grandchildren, Lindsey, Jacqueline, Mitchell, Brooklyn and Emery; brother and sister-in-law Craig and Judy Jensen and sisters-in-law Gloria Jensen, Sharon Jensen and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Allen, her son, Benjamin, her brother, Daryl Lynn, her parents, Cecil and Otto all preceded her to the grave.

Funeral services will be held June 7 at 2pm at the Lyman LDS Chapel. A viewing will be held two hours prior to the services. Interment will follow services at the Lyman Cemetery.