Bonnie L. Jensen

Bonnie Lee Jensen, age 91, of De Smet, SD, passed away on Tuesday March 15, 2022, at The Village Assisted Living Center of De Smet. Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in De Smet.  Father Richard Baumberger will officiate.  The Mass will be live-streamed via the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel Facebook page.

Visitation will be at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in De Smet on Friday, March 25, 2022,  from 5-7 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. Rosary.

Burial will be at Lake Preston Cemetery in Lake Preston, SD.  Urnbearers will be Ed Constant, Ron Penney, Jeff Lanning, and Jeff Iverson.  Honorary Urnbearers will be Amber Wirkus, Cassey Penney, Bradley Penney, Jason Lanning, Grant Lanning, Kendan Iverson, Maren Iverson, Olivia Iverson, Abigail Wirkus, Elliot Wirkus, Jordan Brown, Camryn Muhlenkort, Destiney Andrews, Grace Lanning, Olivia Lanning, Jack Lanning, Madilynn Lanning, Amelya Lanning, Connor Lanning, and Jasper Lanning. 

Bonnie Lee Ryland was born April 25, 1930, in De Smet, SD to Albert Ryland and Evelyn Grace Campbell. She grew up in De Smet and graduated from De Smet High School. As a young woman, she worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in both Huron, SD and Lake Preston, SD.

Bonnie was united in marriage to “her Marine” Daniel C. Jensen on December 16, 1952, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Following their marriage, they went to Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC, where Daniel was stationed.

Upon Daniel’s discharge, they returned to a farm south of Lake Preston until 1958, when they moved north of Lake Preston to their farm, which would later become known as Dan’s Dairy. Bonnie loved Daniel and her life was spent embracing farm life as a house wife and loving mother. They enjoyed the many trips they took visiting family and friends. Bonnie and Daniel were married one month short of 50 years at the time of his death.

After Bonnie’s children were grown, she returned to the workforce and worked at the Lake Preston Hospital and Nursing home, The Cottage Inn Motel in De Smet, and New West Assisted Living of Huron, SD.

Bonnie was a lifelong member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church where she was also a member of the Alter Society and she spent several years teaching Catechism. She loved being a member of and participating in Red Hat Society. Bonnie was also a member of the Lake Preston Legion Auxiliary.

Bonnie was excited to be one of the first residents of the Village Assisted Living Center in September 2019. She loved her new home and the other residents and staff.

Bonnie was spunky and sassy up to the end. She loved life, fun, glitter, lipstick, flowers, crafting, ice cream and playing games (especially Dominos and Bingo), but her greatest loves were Daniel, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Bonnie is survived by her 4 daughters; Krislyn (Ed) Constant of Dell Rapids, SD; Jeanne (Ron) Penney of De Smet, SD; Mary (Jeff) Lanning of Mitchell, SD; and Juli (Jeff) Iverson of Lake Elmo, MN; her 2 sisters, Mary Jean Torvinen, Barnes, WI; Sue Ann Fergen, Mitchell, SD; 8 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel; her son, Michael; her granddaughter Brooke Penney Muhlenkort; her parents Kenneth and Evelyn Graham; and many other extended family members.

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