Mary Ann Jensen, 95

Published 8:44 am Thursday, November 2, 2017

Mary Ann Jensen, 95

Mary Ann Jensen, 95, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin.

Mary Ann was born Oct. 25, 1922, in Huron, South Dakota, to Knute and Katherine (Cassidy) Sabo Sampson. She graduated with the Class of 1941 from Huron High School.  On Sept. 21, 1947, she was united in marriage to Frederick “Fritz” Jensen in Huron as part of a double wedding with her sister Katherine and Roger Woodworth. Mary Ann and Fritz resided in Austin where they raised their two children. In her early years she worked for Hormel, and then later as a home health aide for many years with Mower County Public Health. Mary Ann enjoyed volunteering at her kids’  school activities when they were young including Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and PTA. She was a faithful member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin where she taught Sunday school, served as WELCA secretary, and was active in the Altar Guild. She was also active in AARP, and Sons of Norway. Everyone appreciated Mary Ann’s meticulous nature when it came to cleaning and organizing.  At a very young age she began to developed a reputation of being a caregiver.  Whenever someone was ill, injured or in need, or having a baby, she was there with her husband Fritz at her side.

Mary Ann is survived by her daughter, Denise Kay Graves of Metamora, Illinois; and son, Frederick Samuel Jensen of Liberty, Missouri; five grandchildren, Brett (Alyson Laub) Jensen, Megan Jensen, Brandon (Jill Friedrich) Jensen, Travis Graves, and Lindsay (Robert Nimmo III) Graves Nimmo; seven great-grandchildren, Ryne and Ava Jensen, Eleanor “Elli,” Samuel, Lee, and Elizabeth Graves, and Cora Nimmo; her sister, Katherine A. Woodworth of Huron, S.D.; sister-in-law, Lydia Clingman of Austin; nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Fritz on May 25, 2003; four sisters, Normal Campbell, Mabel Cafourek, Nelli Kirkwood, and Myrtle Van Dyke; and brother, Samuel Sampson.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin with Pastor Susan Rector Li officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin. Visitation will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon prior to the service at St. Olaf Church.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to St. Olaf Lutheran Church-Senior Ministries. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin.  Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.