Joseph James "Jim" Jensen

JIM JENSEN Joseph James “Jim” Jensen, 80, of Rexburg, Idaho, passed away on June 1, 2017, at his home surrounded by family. Jim was born June 22, 1936, to Joseph and Mary (Marler) Jensen in Independence, Idaho. He was their only child.  Jim grew up farming with his dad and loved his childhood home on the Texas Slough in Independence.  Jim attended schools in Independence, Burton, and Rexburg and graduated from Madison High School in 1954. He graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business and started his master’s degree at Utah State University before having to return to Independence to run the family farm.  Jim married his sweetheart, Betty Jean Gold, on his birthday, June 22, 1956, and they have been married for 60+ years.   Jim farmed for many years raising cattle, hay, grain, and potatoes. He received the Outstanding Young Farmer award in 1969.  He also served as Secretary and Board Member of the Liberty Park Canal Company for 31 years.  After the Teton Dam flood in 1976, Jim sold his cattle, leased out his farm ground, and bought his first 18-wheeler.  Jim acquired a commodity dealer’s license and hauled grain to Northern Idaho for many years.  Trucking was one of the highlights of his life.        Jim loved baseball and was an avid Boston Red Sox fan his whole life. He and Betty were able to take a trip to Boston to see Fenway Park to fulfill his life-long dream.  Jim also loved watching the Utah Jazz, snowmobiling and four-wheeling, reading, golfing, crossword puzzles, and going on daily drives.  Jim was a devoted husband and father and loved his family very much and enjoyed spending time with them.  He and Betty enjoyed spending the winter months in St. George, Utah, and time at their cabin in Island Park in the summer months. Jim is survived by his wife, Betty; four daughters, Tammy (Steve) Sorensen of Rexburg; Gina (Robert) Kite of Idaho Falls; Leta Jensen of Idaho Falls; Lori (Ryan) Geary of Heber City; and a son, Bart Jensen of Rexburg; his eight grandchildren (Jason Sorensen, Joe Sorensen, Lexie Kite-Bunderson, Lindsay Kite, Garrett Kite, Courtney Geary-Taylor, Kylee Geary, and Dallin Geary), five great-grandchildren (Jace Sorensen, RyLee Sorensen, Adri Jo Sorensen, Graham Kite, and Logan Bunderson); and a brother-in-law, Rick (Anamarie) Gold. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and his in-laws, Ray and Thelma Gold.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at Eckersell Funeral Home, 101 West Main Street, Rigby, Idaho, at 11:00 a.m. The family will visit with friends Monday evening, June 5, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. at Eckersell Funeral Home, and again on Tuesday morning prior to the funeral service from 10:00 a.m. until 10:50 a.m.  Burial will be at Annis Little Butte Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org. The family would like to give a special thanks to Nelson Villegas for his kind, compassionate care and friendship the past year.