Merrill Jensen, 95, Owatonna
Merrill O. Jensen, age 95, of Owatonna, died Dec. 27, 2023, at Benedictine Living Community in Owatonna.
Funeral service is set for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Aurora Lutheran Church in Aurora Township, rural Steele County. Interment will follow at the church cemetery with Military Honors by the Steele County Funeral Unit. Friends may greet the family Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Brick-Meger Funeral Home, Owatonna, and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Thursday.
Merrill was born March 11, 1928, in Aurora Township, the son of Joseph and Hanna (Christofferson) Jensen. He attended country school at District 26 through 8th grade and then attended Owatonna High School, graduating in 1945. Following high school, Merrill attended the U of M - St. Paul Campus. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in April of 1952. He served in the Korean War as a gunner. He was stationed in Japan until he was honorably discharged in 1954.
Merrill was married to Virginia “Ginger” Seykora on Nov. 20, 1954, at Associated Church in Owatonna. He farmed full time for several years and then began working in town for Tubeco for the next 30 years until his retirement in 1993.
Merrill was a member of the V.F.W., Legion, and the Eagles. He enjoyed collecting A & W Root Beer mugs, watching the Minnesota Twins, attending the Steele County Free Fair, and meeting with his Tuesday morning coffee club. He lived a wonderful life and made a lasting impression to all those he encountered. He loved his family, annual trips to Leech Lake, a big party, and his Norwegian heritage, which meant lutefisk was on the menu every Christmas Eve.
Merrill is now with the love of his life, Ginger, that he lost over 29 years ago.
He is survived by his children Curtis (Bernie) Jensen, Karen (Steve) Graff, David (Chris) Jensen, and Brian Jensen, all of Owatonna; and Julie (Tim) Clarey, Lakeville; grandchildren: Janelle (Dillon) Blaha, Michelle (Ryan) Williams, Niki Jensen, Jason (Tara) Thompson, Morgan (Jake) Bjorklund, Josh, Collin and Brenna Clarey, Amanda (Aaron) Betters, Shelby Hinshaw, Nicole (Jarrett) Galvin, Renee (Ryan) Johnson, and Nathan Graff; and great-grandchildren: Joseph, Abby and David Blaha, Foster, Eliza and Laney Williams, Trey and Wren Thompson, Jackson and McKenzie Melchert, Jerod Battey, Connor and Barrett Betters, Juniper Graff, and Avery and James Galvin; one sister Jan Hobgood; many nieces, nephews and cousins and good friend Betty Jensen.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ginger, his parents, and an infant sister.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be used for a family memorial in memory of Merrill.
His family is thankful for the many great friends that always took the time to visit Merrill at his farm or the facilities in town, the staff at KODA that treated him like their very own father, and the hospice staff that was there for him the last few weeks.