Hans Jensen and Mattie Howell Jensen

Hans was the seventh child of John Henry Jensen and Ane Christine Jensen. He was born 7 February 1891. Hans married Mattie Howell from McCammon Idaho on 1 July 1915 in the Logan Temple.

Not long after they were married they moved to a farm in Dayton Idaho, the home where Ervin Robins lives. It was in this home that their second daughter Blanche Gertrude died in March 1923. They later moved to a home east down the lane from their first home. They purchased the farm down by the Thornton beat dump.

Hans and Leo Jensen (not related) were neighbors and they worked and farmed together. One day while hauling hay from the farm to the barn, part of the hay fell off the hay rack. They reloaded the hay, a short distance up the road the hay fell off again, but this time Leo handed Hans a match and Hans set fire and they drove on to the barn.

Hans and Mattie have always been good folks to be around. They have always looked for the best in other people. They have had a good sense of humor and the ability to enjoy the best of what they had. I never remember of them showing anger or wishing that misfortune would come to anyone.

Hans purchased a dry farm north of Dayton Idaho that he and the boys operated. Although the last few years of his life he was in poor health the boys took over the farming. Even as boys they could be depended on to go to the dry farm and do the work of plowing, planting, and harvesting the crops

The last six months of Hans’s life was confined to a bed very sick. It was during this time that I witnessed the love of Hans's family. The entire family was always available to care for him and help relieve the pain. One could not but be impressed by the daily family prayers around the bed of Hans. When neighbors and friends were present they were asked to join in those prayers. They were designed to bring relief of pain from Hans.

The last few months of his life it was necessary to give him painkilling morphine. It became my lot to give those shots to Hans. One morning when I came out to help care for him, he refused to take any more of the shots. He said they were of the devil. In talking to him I could tell that he was seeing spiritual beings in the room. His eyes would follow some unseen person in the room. Hans asked me if I could see the devil. I told him that I could not see him. He then asked me to open the door and let him out. When I opened the door Hans waved some unseen person from the room.

Hans died at his home in June 1945. Since his death Mattie has continued to maintain her home in Dayton Ohio. Mattie spends much time visiting her family.

Hans and Mattie have the following eight children;

            June Howell Jensen born 13 June 1916

                        married Sherman Sant 23 September 1936

            Blanche Gertrude Jensen born to February 1918, died March 1923

            Martha Jensen born 12 December 1919

                        married Raymond Hollingsworth 28 October 1936 later divorced

                        married Rex White 31 December 1940

            Jack Howell Jensen born 5 September 1922

                        married Melvin Shaw 29 November 1945

Vaughn Howell Jensen born 20 March 1924

            married Verda Radford 23 May 1948

            Velma Jensen born 14 September 1927

                        married Dino J Rosa 13 January 1947

            Jerry Lee Jensen born 23 November 1931

                        married Verla Ann Talbot 31 July 1952

            Margie Jensen born 18 June 1937

                        married Larry Morris Stewart 17 May 1954