Leola "Susie" Jensen

Leola “Susie” Jensen passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday, May 20, 2024, at the age of 92.

Funeral services will take place at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at Lake Preston Lutheran Church in Lake Preston, SD. Pastor Rebecca Breddin will officiate with music provided by Lynne Brown as organist. Active pallbearers will be Trever Thorsteinson, Dexter Thorsteinson, Peter Dammen, Andrew Dammen, Brady Malone, and Eric Casper. The service will be livestreamed via the Crawford-Osthus website.

Burial at Lake Preston Cemetery following the service.

Visitation will be held at the church in the hour prior to the service.

The family requests memorials be made in Susie's memory in lieu of flowers to the Lake Preston Cemetery or the Brookings Regional Humane Society.

Leola “Susie” Jensen passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday, May 20 at the age of 92. She lived a life dedicated to her family and community. Susie entered this life on May 17, 1932, to Lloyd and Laura (Nelson) Vostad. She lived her early years in many rural locations in Brookings and Kingsbury County. Susie attended School in Lake Preston.

Susie was united in marriage to Clayton Jensen on June 3, 1947, at the United Church of Christ in Huron, SD. Their marriage of 66 years was blessed with a daughter, Laurie, and a son, Verne, who grew up learning from their parents about the value of hard work on the family farm south of town. They also instilled in their children a sense of family values and the importance of contributing in meaningful ways to their community, for which Susie was well-known around town. She worked at many main street businesses in Lake Preston over the years, including Swenson Drug. 

She enjoyed gardening and refinishing furniture and was crafty and made several crochet items for family. You could find Susie looking for good bargains after the holidays and at rummage sales, as you never know when you might find a treasure! She loved to decorate for any holiday, especially Christmas, and her home was always a welcoming place for family and friends.

Susie will be remembered for her many contributions to the Lake Preston Museum and her membership in community organizations such as American Legion Auxiliary and the Church Ladies quilting group. After moving to town from the farm, Susie enjoyed social time visiting with friends and having coffee uptown.

Susie will be missed by her family members: daughter, Laurie Cowles, of Bartow, FL; son, Verne (Jayne) Jensen of Erwin, SD; grandchildren, Laura (Robbie) Wilson, Sarah (Matt) Dammen and Maria (Steve) Hone; great-grandchildren: Trever (Katie), Dexter (Torri), Peter and Andrew.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton; brothers, LaVern (Betty) Vostad and LeRoy (Kay) Vostad; sisters, Lorraine (Ray) Potter and Luella (Kenny) Miller; brother and sister-in-law, Arlyn and Iylla Jensen.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel                                                                  www.crawfordosthus.com

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