Joyce Jewell Jensen

HAMILTON - The dance band is playing a last waltz for Joyce Jewell Jensen, 90, of Hamilton, who passed away peacefully on November 24, 2015.  She was born on May 26, 1925 in Cambridge, Minnesota to Henning and Olga (Jacobson) Joing, lovingly touching countless lives during her journey. 

Joyce grew up in Cambridge, graduating from Cambridge High School in 1943.  During these WWII years she met a young Minnesotan sailor Robert Lyle Jensen, whom she married on January 30, 1946.  Together they raised two boys and two girls.  Joyce learned many trades, operating equipment such as elevators, trucks, and bull dozers before turning her attention and skills to flowers.  In 1968, Joyce founded Mum’s Flowers in Blackduck, Minnesota.  As the family moved to Roy, Utah and later Whitefish, Montana, the business flourished, and still operates by that name in Whitefish.  Joyce sold the business and retired in 1988, continuing to make bouquets, corsages, and arrangements for her many close friends and family, well into her 80s. 

Joyce was a member of Hamilton, and later Blodgett Canyon Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  From the time Joyce moved to Hamilton in 2002, until 2014, Friday nights were reserved for waltzing and two-stepping at the Golden Agers dances in Hamilton.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Sonny and Kenneth, sister Edna, nephew Douglas Dahl, and Robert Jensen (Sr).  She is survived by sister Evelyn Waidelich, sons Robert (Joni), and Richard (Rosanna) Jensen, daughters Renae (David) Dorward and Rachelle (Keith) Montgomery, God-daughter Sharrone Tulgren, thirteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Pallbearers are Richard Jensen, Keith Montgomery, Christopher Montgomery, David Dorward, Jonathan Roberti, and Fred Wald V. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 2, and funeral services will be held at 11 am Thursday, December 3 at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton.  Interment will follow the services at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton.