Beverly Jensen
January 29, 1932 — March 24, 2023
Beverly Ann Jensen
Beverly Ann Pauley Jensen was born to Harold and Lucile Pauley in Harlan, Iowa on January 29, 1932. Bev was a lifelong member of Bethel Baptist Church where she was baptized on January 25, 1942. She attended Laurel Grade School and Harlan High School, graduating as class Valedictorian in May 1950. During high school, Bev worked at Knudsen Produce candling eggs.
Bev married Ronald Jensen on October 22, 1950 in the Chapel of The Pauley Funeral Home, which was founded and operated by her parents. It was one of two weddings ever held in the Chapel. The Pauley family residence was above the Funeral Home and that was where Bev grew up, making her wedding at home even more meaningful.
Bev and Ron had three children: Steve, Wade, and Elizabeth. Lifelong farmers in Shelby County, Bev and Ron’s first farm was located north of Harlan. They lived there until 1970 when they bought their farm on Maple Road near Corley, IA.
Bev had many hobbies and interests. She loved being outdoors: tending her yard, her flowers, raking leaves, gardening and growing tomatoes, and feeding and admiring birds - especially hummingbirds and cardinals. The kitchen was Bev’s domain and she enjoyed cooking, hosting and gathering her family for dinners, and picnicking in the timber on the farm. Halloween was her favorite holiday because it was open season on the candy she loved - black licorice and chocolate (although Cotton Candy made summer even sweeter). She swam. A lover of games, she was never one to pass on playing Kings in the Corner, a hand of cards, or working a jigsaw puzzle with her grands and greatgrands. She loved music and singing duets with Ron. But, Bev had a soft place in her heart for Mickey Mouse as noted every hour of the day by the Mickey Mouse wrist watch she always wore.
An active member of the Harlan community, Bev taught Sunday school for 44 years at Bethel Baptist Church where she also sang in the choir. She was a 4H leader for the Lincoln Bluebirds, a tenured member of the Hospital Auxiliary, and active in the Red Hat Society.
Bev died on March 24, 2023 at Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan surrounded by her loved ones. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Lucile Pauley, and brothers, H. Clay Pauley, Richard Pauley, and Paul A. Pauley and their spouses.
Bev is survived by her husband Ronald Jensen of Harlan and the three children she loved with all her heart - Steve (Merry Jo) Jensen; Wade (Linda) Jensen; and Elizabeth Jensen (Bret Thies). She also adored her 5 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and her younger brother Bruce Pauley (Jennifer Lassiter).
When you see or hear the songbirds she loved softly singing, please stop to look and listen, and remember Bev. She was a beautiful and selfless person who loved God. Bev was loved dearly and will be missed deeply.
1 Peter 5:7.
Family suggests memorial donations be directed to Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa.
Beverly Ann Pauley Jensen was born to Harold and Lucile Pauley in Harlan, Iowa on January 29, 1932. Bev was a lifelong member of Bethel Baptist Church where she was baptized on January 25, 1942. She attended Laurel Grade School and Harlan High School, graduating as class Valedictorian in May 1950. During high school, Bev worked at Knudsen Produce candling eggs.
Bev married Ronald Jensen on October 22, 1950 in the Chapel of The Pauley Funeral Home, which was founded and operated by her parents. It was one of two weddings ever held in the Chapel. The Pauley family residence was above the Funeral Home and that was where Bev grew up, making her wedding at home even more meaningful.
Bev and Ron had three children: Steve, Wade, and Elizabeth. Lifelong farmers in Shelby County, Bev and Ron’s first farm was located north of Harlan. They lived there until 1970 when they bought their farm on Maple Road near Corley, IA.
Bev had many hobbies and interests. She loved being outdoors: tending her yard, her flowers, raking leaves, gardening and growing tomatoes, and feeding and admiring birds - especially hummingbirds and cardinals. The kitchen was Bev’s domain and she enjoyed cooking, hosting and gathering her family for dinners, and picnicking in the timber on the farm. Halloween was her favorite holiday because it was open season on the candy she loved - black licorice and chocolate (although Cotton Candy made summer even sweeter). She swam. A lover of games, she was never one to pass on playing Kings in the Corner, a hand of cards, or working a jigsaw puzzle with her grands and greatgrands. She loved music and singing duets with Ron. But, Bev had a soft place in her heart for Mickey Mouse as noted every hour of the day by the Mickey Mouse wrist watch she always wore.
An active member of the Harlan community, Bev taught Sunday school for 44 years at Bethel Baptist Church where she also sang in the choir. She was a 4H leader for the Lincoln Bluebirds, a tenured member of the Hospital Auxiliary, and active in the Red Hat Society.
Bev died on March 24, 2023 at Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan surrounded by her loved ones. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Lucile Pauley, and brothers, H. Clay Pauley, Richard Pauley, and Paul A. Pauley and their spouses.
Bev is survived by her husband Ronald Jensen of Harlan and the three children she loved with all her heart - Steve (Merry Jo) Jensen; Wade (Linda) Jensen; and Elizabeth Jensen (Bret Thies). She also adored her 5 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and her younger brother Bruce Pauley (Jennifer Lassiter).
When you see or hear the songbirds she loved softly singing, please stop to look and listen, and remember Bev. She was a beautiful and selfless person who loved God. Bev was loved dearly and will be missed deeply.
1 Peter 5:7.
Family suggests memorial donations be directed to Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa.
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