Stevensville – On Friday, December 6, 2019, Donna Lea Jensen, loving wife and mother of three children, passed away at the age of 85 due to natural causes.
Donna Lea was born June, 19, 1934 to Herman and Florence Wolf in Deadwood, South Dakota. She spent her formative years in Rapid City, South Dakota and worked for the school district following graduation. On June 2, 1957, she married the love of her life, Robert Lee Jensen, and the two lived in a blissful marriage for 62 years, during which time they raised two daughters and a son.
Anyone around Donna Lea knew her love for people. A truly great woman, she had a gift for making a first-time meeting into a warm, comforting encounter that not only made anyone feel welcome, but resonated long after parting from her. The relationships she and her husband built over their decades together are still a foundation for many, with her care and love being a cornerstone to those life-long ties.
Her connection with people was a gift, and her dedication to her family was masterful. She was an ever-present and loving mother and grandmother. Whether in the sewing room making clothes and passing that passion down to her daughters, or in the kitchen of the motorhome, making her famous fried brook trout, Donna Lea brought joy to what she was doing and memories to everyday tasks. As her family grew in size and age, her passion grew to the past, where she discovered and developed the trees of several different family lines. Her work and discoveries just added to the endless stories she was able to share with those around her.
While she was able to find purpose and happiness in all she was doing, her greatest passion was her husband, Bob. In a marriage that spanned across decades and the country, Bob and Donna Lea displayed a love that was both visible on the surface and deep within the soul. First meeting at a USO dance in 1956, the two were married in 1957. The couple had their first daughter, Susan, in 1960 and their second, Diana, in 1962. The four spent the next several years in South Dakota. The Jensen family eventually moved to Stevensville in 1975 where they settled down to finish raising their family as well as bringing in another member, Todd Twedt, during his last years of school. Once their kids were out of the house, the couple spent years traveling down south to Arizona, Mexico, and many other destinations along the way. The two shared a love for travel and meeting new people along the way.
Donna Lea is survived by her dedicated and loving husband Bob; their three children, Susan Jensen, Diana Lewis and husband Miles, and Todd Twedt and his wife Nichole; and their grandchildren Chris Lewis and wife Chelsey and son Henry Lewis, Lanaia Lewis, Megan Lewis, and Cole Twedt and his partner Kelsie. Her presence of warmth and love will be ever missed.
A private family service will be held. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.