Irene Louise Jensen, 96, of McVille and formerly of Bismarck , ND , passed away at the Nelson County Health System Care Center in McVille on Saturday, July 26.

Irene was born November 9, 1911 at Wells, MN, the daughter of Henry and Marie (Bethmann) Beckman. At the age of two, Irene moved with her family to a farm north of Hannover . She attended country school through eighth grade and then high school in Stanton , graduating in 1930. She attended Dickinson State Teachers' College and then taught in Oliver and Morton County country schools for nine years. She had many interesting experiences to relate from her teaching days.

She met her future husband, Raymond Jensen, at a neighborhood “house party”. Raymond sometimes played the banjo at these events and Irene chorded on the piano. They were married on June 18, 1941 at the Lutheran parsonage at Churchtown , ND . Following their marriage they bought the Jensen family farm northwest of Hannover and farmed there until retiring to Bismarck in 1968. On the farm Irene enjoyed cooking for family and hired help, gardening, baking, and canning. She also raised chickens and milked cows.

After moving to Bismarck , she and Raymond volunteered at Medcenter One Hospital and also at the Bismarck Senior Citizen Center where their special love was caring for plants in the “Plant Room”. Besides plants she enjoyed reading, sewing, embroidery and writing letters and poems. She enjoyed children and while on the farm taught Sunday School at St. Paul 's Lutheran Church at Center for many years.

In 2000 Irene and Raymond moved to McVille , ND , to be near their daughter, Kay, and her family. Raymond passed away in November 2003. Irene became a resident at NCHS Care Center in May, 2004.

Irene leaves her daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Darrell Moon of McVille, granddaughters Rev. Tessa and Jon Leiseth, Isaac and Sophia of Moorhead, MN, and Sara and Terry Waltz, Brianna, Trey and Jensen of Fargo, ND. Other surviving family include one sister, Beatrice (Walter) Reinke of Center; brothers Ernie (Erma) Beckman of Bismarck, Wilbert (Loretta) Beckman, Preston (Norma) Beckman and Burton Beckman all of Hannover; brothers-in-law David (Ruby) Jensen, Warren (Betty) Jensen, both of Hazen; sisters-in-law Hilda Jensen, Hannover, Grace (Lyle) Benz of Estancia, NM, and Florence Jensen of Seattle, WA.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Raymond, sisters Lillian (Ed) Rollenhagen and Berniece (Edwin) Berg, sister-in-law Arlene Beckman, brothers-in-law Forrest Jensen, Orrie (Clara) Jensen, Neal (Mary) Jensen, and John Jensen.

Funeral services for Irene will be Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 1:30 PM (CST) in the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Center, ND.  Visitation will be Wednesday, July 30, 2008 from 5 PM to 8 PM in the Stanley-Iverson Funeral Home of McVille, ND.  Officiating will be Pastor Lisa Ahlness.  Pianist will be Sandy Olin.  Special music will be "Blessed Assurance" by Sara Waltz.  Casketbearers will be Audrey Bargmann, Clayton Beckman, Dennis Beckman, Wayne Beckman, Cary Berg, Kenneth Reinke, Beverly Thompson and Karen Whitaker.    Interment will be in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery of Center, ND.