Aberdeen: Mass of Christian burial for Vernon E. Jensen, 80, of Aberdeen will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 16, 2011, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Aberdeen. The Rev. Shane D. Stevens will be officiating. Burial will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the Mellette Cemetery with military rites by the Mellette American Legion. Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.
Liturgical wake service will be 5 p.m. Friday, July 15, 2011, at the mortuary. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the mortuary and one hour prior to the service at the church, Saturday. Friends may sign his online guestbook at schriversmemorial.com.
Vernon passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at his home.
Vernon Eugene Jensen was born on June 29, 1931, in Sioux Falls. His parents H.P. "Pete" and Esther (Anderson) Jensen lived on a farm near Brentford, where he attended country schools and graduated from Brentford High School in 1949. He entered the U.S. Army in 1951 and served overseas during the Korean War. He received his honorable discharge in 1954. He attended Northern State College, graduating in 1958.
Vernon married Donna Morgen on Oct. 19, 1957, in Mellette. They made their home in Aberdeen, where Vernon was employed with Farmers and Merchants Bank for several years. Later he started working for the Department of Labor until retiring in 1992.
Vernon was a member of American Legion, VFW, Senior Center, RSVP, Ringneck Coin and Stamp Club and Sportsman Club of Brown County. He was a hunter safety course instructor for more than 30 years. He donated many hours to the Brown County Fair and Roncalli Nearly New Shop. He enjoyed riding bike, walking, photography, attending auction sales and having coffee time with his friends. Vernon and Donna enjoyed camping trips, bus tours and spending February in Yuma, Ariz.
Surviving Vernon are his wife, Donna of Aberdeen; two sisters, Erlaine Braun of Aberdeen and Lynda LaBrie of Corona, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Roger and Larry.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
