Larry Jensen

LARRY'S TRIBUTE VIDEO

Larry Loren Jensen was born in Pierre, South Dakota on March 7, 1946, and died at St. Mary’s Hospice Center in Pierre, South Dakota on August 18, 2007 at the age of 61 years and six months.

Funeral services were held at 2:00p.m., Wednesday, August 22 at the Hyde County Memorial Auditorium with Max Kelley officiating. Burial was in Spring Lake Cemetery, rural Highmore. Visitations was held Tuesday, August 21 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Luze Funeral Home in Highmore.

Larry lived his entire life on the family ranch in northern Hyde County. He completed grade school at Spring Lake School located one and a half miles from his home. Later, he drove to Highmore for high school, graduating in 1964. Larry married Ramona Burrows on October 25, 1969 at the Sedgwick Church. They made their home on the family ranch where they worked with Larry’s parents. Larry and Ramona spent countless hours working with the sheep and cattle and putting up hay. They had one daughter, Crystal, who married Jarvis Wipf. They gave Larry and Ramona two handsome grandsons, Jensen and Anders. In the early 1990s Larry scaled back on ranching and began a salvage and antique machinery business. He enjoyed the business and the people he met through it.

Larry loved people. He was known to start a conversation with a stranger and by the end of the conversation that person was often a friend. He enjoyed helping and encouraging others; he was a blessing and inspiration to many.

One of Larry’s biggest passions was the game of softball. He began his long career by playing first base for his uncle’s team on a field in the middle of a pasture in northern Hyde County. He played an estimated 2200 games over 47 years in fastpitch and slowpitch combined. He was famous for his wooden bat, his work boots, and his bare-handed line drive catches. His accomplishments in the game were recognized when he was inducted into the South Dakota Softball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Larry also loved to hunt. Larry began hunting when he was about nine years old, and hunting and trapping remained one of his favorite pastimes throughout his life. He enjoyed countless hours hunting with family and friends, and loved recounting their many adventures. His daughter, Crystal, enjoyed hearing many of these adventures for her bedtime stories while she was growing up.

Larry was loved and respected by many; he will be greatly missed. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, confessing his sins and committing to living a life glorifying God. Because of this decision, we know that Larry is now in heaven. Larry is survived by his wife Ramona, his daughter Crystal (Jensen) Wipf and her husband Jarvis, and his grandsons Jensen and Anders. He was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Eleanor (Buchheim) Jensen and several aunts and uncles.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given.