Maurice Waldo Jensen

Jan. 18, 1931 – June 28, 2024

Maurice Waldo Jensen died at home June 28, 2024, in Mattawa, Washington. 

He was born January 18, 1931, in Lovell to Maurice William Jensen and Erma Sonetta Wirth Jensen. 

He attended Byron schools and was involved in many activities such as student body president and championship football and basketball teams. He graduated as valedictorian in 1949. He also graduated from Salt Lake City Barber College in 1950, then served two years for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Great Lakes Mission until 1952. 

He served in the Army in the Korean War starting in January 1953. He became a squad leader and then a corporal. 

He married Mary Lewis June 11, 1954, in the Idaho Falls Temple. In October of 1954 he attended NWCC in Powell, then the University of Wyoming and graduated in June of 1958 with a bachelor’s degree to teach biology and math. 

He taught math in Evanston, Wyoming, for three years, then in Byron starting in 1961. He received a Master of Science in teaching mathematics from the University of Arizona. He retired from teaching math in Byron in 1994. 

He served in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was bishop for the Byron LDS Ward from October 1, 1972, until October 2, 1978. He said, “Never had I known how closely the Lord works with bishops.” 

He served two more church missions with Mary. The first was at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City from June of 1995 to November 20,1996; the second was in the Peoria, Illinois, Mission from December 12, 1997, to December 18, 1998. 

Later they served in the Billings Temple as ordinance workers for 17 years. 

He and Mary were always active in the community and church. They raised productive gardens and kept up their big yard and home. When it was too much to keep up, they moved to Mattawa on October 1, 2021, near their daughter Lorraine Jenne and her family. 

His life was one of honor and integrity. He took ownership of every assignment. He loved his wife, Mary, his family, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and learning. He had a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

He left behind his wife, Mary Lewis Jensen; children Clark (LaRene) Jensen of Casper, Lorraine (Tim) Jenne of Mattawa, Beth (Shane) McAffee of Washington, Utah, Glenn (Cynthia) Jensen of Highland, Utah, Kurt (Heidi) Jensen of Spanish Fork, Utah, and Karen (Cortino) Garcia of Meridian, Idaho; 31 grandchildren; and 60 great-grandchildren. 

His funeral will be held July 12 at 11 a.m. at the Byron LDS Church.