Mollie Jean Jensen left this world on December 17, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. She faded peacefully at home, with her children holding her hands, the smell of Christmas baking in the air and the sounds of a baby playing in the next room.
Mollie is preceded in death by the love of her life, Oswald Jensen, as well as her parents William and Mae Rice, and her brother Bill Rice. She is survived by her sister Deb McCandless (Stacey Callahan) and she leaves a legacy of fourteen children: Gilbert Jr (LaCena) Taylor, Brodie Jensen, Julie Moore, Robert (Christie) Jensen, Wendi (Arch) Thompson, Daniel Jensen, David Taylor, Lori (Jason) Schoening, Eric (Ariena) Jensen, Rebecca (Manuel) Gumbs, Jessica Jensen, Gina Jensen, Danny Jensen, and Matthew Jensen. Her life was enriched by 27 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. She had many longstanding dear friends, among the longest were Mary Lou Thompson of Anchorage, Alaska and Ruby Hollembaek of Delta Junction, Alaska.
Mollie began her life in California on May 25, 1942, where she was born and raised. Her favorite memories to share of her growing up years include running into her father’s arms when he came home after WWII, saving her lunch money for donuts, living the farm life in Watsonville, visiting the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and shenanigans with her brother and baby sister.
Mollie brought her first four children into the world in California, where she worked as a telephone switchboard operator. The family moved to Oregon in 1970, where Mollie began her career in education.
In 1977, she began a new chapter of her life with Oswald Jensen, her four children and his three. A blended family vacation to Alaska that year became a permanent move when they bought property in Delta Junction and built a dome house. Mollie and Ossie married that December and grew their family by three additional children in three years.
Shortly thereafter, her first grandchild was born — starting the first of many waves of beloved grandchildren. Ossie was a land surveyor and Mollie was the draftswoman of all the maps for the family business. In the mid-80s, Mollie completed her college education, earning her teaching degree and soon having a classroom of her own. She found her niche teaching second grade at Delta Elementary School.
In 1991, Mollie lost Ossie to cancer. Her family and the Delta Junction community rallied around her, and she rose from her grief to continue teaching and raising her children. At the turn of the millennium, Mollie adopted four of her grandchildren, increasing her brood to 14. She retired from teaching to focus on raising her last four children and later, as an empty nester, she became active in the senior ladies’ group in Delta where she enjoyed playing cards and chatting with friends. Throughout her life, she was a seamstress, a reader, a collector, and a crafter. She spread love and kindness all her days. She will be dearly missed.
A celebration of life will be held at the Delta Community Center on January 8 at 2:00 PM. All are welcome.
Online condolences may be made to the family at Blanchardfamilyfuneral home.com.
