Elizabeth Jensen

Elizabeth A. “Beth” Jensen, 93, of Clear Lake, died Friday, April 4, 2014 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

A funeral service for Beth will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 10, 2014 at Zion Lutheran Church, 12 N. 4th Street, Clear Lake, with the Reverend Dean Hess presiding.  Burial will follow in the Clear Lake Cemetery.  The family will greet friends from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the church on Thursday.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made directly to the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank, 22 N. Georgia Ave., Mason City, Iowa, 50401, or to Central Gardens of North Iowa, P.O. Box 735, Clear Lake, Iowa, 50428.

Elizabeth A. Jensen, daughter of the late Ralph and Orral (Amlong) McQuirk, was born July 27, 1920 in Early, Iowa.  Beth was raised in Superior, Iowa, and graduated from the Superior High School where she was an avid basketball player.  Following her education, she moved to California where she was employed by an aircraft manufacturing plant during World War II before moving to Clear Lake where she initially worked for Mason City Tent and Awning and later Clear Lake Savings and Loan. 

She was united in marriage to John “Joe” W. Jensen in Albert Lea, Minn., on Sept. 14, 1947.  The couple would then raise three children, Craig, Jon, and Jill.  Beth later owned and operated her own bookkeeping business, Jensen Business Service, for over 30 years.  

From 1981 to 1987, both Beth and Joe were employed by Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel in Clear Lake.

Beth enjoyed playing cards, especially with her bridge club.  She also enjoyed dancing when she was younger, being involved in the Mr. and Mrs. Dance Club.  She loved to travel and had visited 47 of the 50 states, as well as Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.  

She was a lifetime member of Beta-Sigma-Phi and the Clear Lake VFW Auxiliary.  She was the wedding coordinator for Zion Lutheran Church, advocate for residents at the Opportunity Village and volunteered her time to several events including her involvement with the Clear Creek School Reading Buddies Program.  

Beth is survived by her children, Craig (Mickey) Jensen, Clear Lake, Jon (Mary) Jensen, Walla Walla, Wash., and Jill (Dennis) Opdahl, Lewiston, Idaho; grandchildren, Michele (Todd) Schatzberg, West Des Moines, Lisa Jensen (Brian Napp), Omaha, Neb., Sara (Bill) VanHorn, Clear Lake, Jeremy Opdahl and Jennifer Opdahl, both of Lewiston, Idaho; great-grandchildren, Connor, Max, Wylie, Allisa, Sophie, Keegan and Maddisyn; her sister, Carol Kirk, of California; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, “Joe”; her parents; three brothers, Phil, Mark and Edward McQuirk; and two sisters, Ruth Stanton and Mary Ann Carlson.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.