Mary (Lewis) Jensen

Mary Lewis Jensen was born October 4, 1931, to Rudger Roland Lewis and Bertha Mortensen Lewis.  She grew up in Cowley, Wyoming and went to school there.  She swam in canals in the summer and ice skated in the winter.  She loved singing, dancing, learning and people.

After high school she went to the University of Wyoming and graduated with a degree in Home Economics.  After graduation she taught Home Economics in Powell, Wyoming for two years.

Meanwhile, she was courted by Maurice Waldo (Wally) Jensen of Byron.  They married June 11, 1954, in the Idaho Falls Temple.  Wally was in the service and stationed in Yakima, WA.  After they married, Mary spent the summer with him then returned to Powell to teach.  He got an early release in October of 1954 and joined her and attended NWCC.

They continued on to the University of Wyoming in Laramie where Wally finished his degree, then the family moved to Evanston, WY where he taught math for 3 years.  Their next move was to Byron, Wyoming in 1961 where Wally taught math for the rest of his career.

When her children were young, Mary was a substitute teacher in Byron.  She was also involved in many activities and clubs like DUP, the school board, and various committees and organizations.

She kept her teaching certificate up to date and often took college classes from NWCC.  When Wally was at summer school in Arizona, she took classes to qualify to teach elementary education full time.  She taught 5th grade in Lovell for 2 years in 1968-1970.

Further she was involved with her kids sports and all their activities.  She served in many church callings and was a president many times.  Her kids have memories of her serving when they were in primary, as their seminary teacher, and Young Women's President. 

In 1970 the family started building their house.  The building continued as they could afford it.  It was completed 4 years later.

Mary was involved in politics and supported many local Republican candidates with their campaigns.  She also served as Mayor of Byron from 1980-1984.  As mayor she was careful, decisive and dedicated.  She wanted to make Byron a better place.  One project was to place flower planters on the median on Main Street.  Pam Hopkinson said Mary "was instrumental in pulling together the mayors of Powell, Cody and Lovell to address the city water problems which resulted in forming the Shoshone Municipal pipeline project which delivers treated domestic water to Cody, Powell, Byron, Lovell, Deaver and Frannie as well as Northwest rural water.  She was the 'mover' behind getting them together to solve the problem of good water."

She was creative with many homemaking skills.  She sewed clothing for her children including matching Easter clothes, prom dresses, Lorraine's wedding dress and many more items.  She was also a talented quilter.  She made quilts for all her children and grandchildren and baby quilts for great grandchildren until she couldn't.

She served two missions with Wally.  The first was at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City from 1995-1996; the second was from 1997-1998 in the Peoria, IL Mission. Later Mary and Wally served as ordinance workers for 17 years in the Billing, MT LDS Temple.

They also raised productive vegetable gardens, flower gardens and an apple orchard.  As an avid believer in food storage, her shelves and freezer were always full.

They moved to Mattawa, WA in 2021 to be near their daughter Lorraine.  Waldo died at home in Mattawa June 28, 2024.  Mary moved to Payson, UT to the Orchard View Assisted Living facility and was near many family members.  All her children came to say goodbye and were near when she died early on February 18, 2025.

Her children include Clark (LaRene) Jensen, Casper, WY; Lorraine (Tim) Jenne, Mattawa, WA; Beth (Shane) McAffee, Washington, UT; Glenn (Cynthia) Jensen, Highland, UT; Kurt (Heidi) Jensen Spanish Fork, UT; Karen (Cortino) Garcia Meridian, ID. She has 31 grandchildren and 61 grandchildren and counting.  

Her funeral will be in Cowley, Wyoming LDS Ward Building March 8, 2025, at 10 am.  Interment will be at the Byron Cemetery.

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