LaVon Robert Jensen and Rose Eva Drake

LaVon was the last and Thirteenth child of John Henry Jensen and Ane Christine Jensen. He was born 12 March 1902.

LaVon was the baby of the family. But he had to be a big baby for he stood 6'4" tall in his bare feet, because he never had any shoes.

It became LaVon's lot to take care of his mother when the home on the ranch burned down. Grandmother and the boys moved to Weston. Later LaVon and grandmother moved to Nyssa Oregon where Aunt Louise Fife lived and Louise helped LaVon care for grandmother until she died.

When LaVon was asked when he was going to get married he would say that if he got a bad woman he would live with her long enough anyway, and if he got a good woman she would be worth waiting for. She was worth waiting for; Rose has been a good for and to LaVon.

LaVon and Rose were married in 1944. Although Rose at times has had poor health she has kept a good home. They seem to take a lot of pride in their home. At one time when we left LaVon and Roses home my niece remarked that Rose was a very nice lady.

LaVon was always very strong in his hands and arms. LaVon liked to grip, taking fork or shovel handle and holding handle with both hands and turning the handle in the other grippers hands. I've seen LaVon grip down two men at the same time.

LaVon has worked at farming and also as a laborer. He worked for eight years for the Nyssa school district as custodian until he retired in 1967.

In 1965 LaVon and Rose were married in the Idaho Falls Temple, Idaho Falls Idaho.

            MY UNCLE LAVON by Valerie Purvis

I would like you to meet my uncle LaVon who I am sure you're going to like. Uncle LaVon or “Bonno” know as I have always called him, was a tall lanky man 6'4", with a heavy crop of dark hair that is usually standing on the end. At 50 years old there was no gray hair.

He has been a hard-working man. Kindness seems to flow from his soft brown eyes. He has always reminded me of Abraham Lincoln. He has spent most of his life doing something for others and never gaining many riches for himself.

LaVon was of Danish ancestry with a strong sense of pride. LaVon was inclined to be quite stubborn standing for what he believes to be right. He has so many favorite Danish sayings that gives him a sense of humor.

Thinking of his life I have often wondered how he could always be given so much and receiving so little. He raised my mother and my aunt after their parents died.

Seeing my uncle in real life is much better than a description because of his many different traits.

This is my uncle Lavonne how do you like him, I do.

Valerie