06/25/2025
Velma Nadine Jensen Obituary
February 12, 1928 – June 22, 2025
Velma Nadine Jensen, age 97, joined her eternal companion on Sunday, June 22 at her home
in Grover, Wyoming. She was born February 12, 1928, in Paris, Idaho to Milford “Pat” Murphy
and Alta Rose Holmes Aland. She was the 8 th child in a family of 11, Lonetta Alta, Janice Sarah
Rose, DeVerl Milford, Ross, Jack, Doris May, Dorothy Marie, all older, Velma Nadine, Everitt
LeGrand, Gloria Darlene, and Sylvia as her younger siblings. She outlived all of her immediate
family.
Her father often hired out as a farm hand, also working on the railroad in Montpelier, Idaho. It
was in Bear Lake, Idaho where she learned to swim, becoming an excellent swimmer and loving
the water. She also attended school in Montpelier, Idaho, finding an additional love, reading.
She was a precocious child finishing two grades in one year. Because of her reading ability
Nadine was allowed to attend a chemistry class with the older students in the building. She
learned how to make matches and looked forward to trying new experiments.
Nadine was born into a musical family and learned to play several instruments, mostly self-
taught. She was born with a great singing voice. Being a good speller, she competed in a
spelling bee contest and was confident she could win her way to the Idaho State Finals. She
did just that, but still young, when she saw how large the stage was, she froze. Nadine couldn’t
utter a single letter.
The Murphy family relocated to what is now Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming and later to Thayne,
Wyoming where her dad again hired out as a farm hand. It was in Thayne that her mother Alta
became a school cook and Nadine learned by her mother’s side. Her mother was already
known for her bread and it was only natural that Nadine carried that talent to new heights. From
then on Nadine would be asked to make bread and pies all over Star Valley.
When World War II ended a handsome young man named Keith Jensen decided to take his
date to the County Fair in Afton. Nadine’s date also decided to take her to the fair. It was love
at first sight, and they both ditched their dates for each other! It would result in an eternal bond
of love and partnership that would last for 75 years of their mortal lives. After a short courtship,
they were married in Idaho Falls, Idaho on December 11, 1945. In 1952 their marriage was
solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple. When they married it was a match made in heaven for
their talents as well. Keith had a beautiful tenor voice and Nadine sang a great alto. They were
asked to sing at numerous funerals and community functions throughout their lives.
They settled next to Keith’s parents, Lorenzo and Katie, on the homestead where Keith was
born, greatly enlarging the small dairy farm Keith’s dad had started. They worked side by side
on every venture of their lives. Numerous awards were given for their thriving dairy farm, but it
was still a hard business, rising every morning at 4:00 AM to milk cows, and maintaining the
farming.
They took their singing on the road and formed their first group, the Murphy Orchestra. Later it
was a country western band called the Rock-a-Billie’s. When old enough, most of their children
and Nadine’s father and mother joined the band. People loved them and soon they began
making more money than in dairy farming.
In 1968 they put all their energy into an outfitting business. It was a huge success. Working
alongside Keith, Nadine, now a well-known cook, was the chef for the hunters. Again, it was a
family venture with all of their children and their spouses, many grandchildren, and even great-
grandchildren working side by side with them. They started by advertising in hunting magazines
but had to quit as there were too many hunters to handle, even after hiring numerous guides.
From then on it was word of mouth with most hunters bringing their families and raising their
own kids hunting with Jensen Hunting Camp. The camp is still operating, and Keith directed the
affairs holding an outfitters license until his death. Clients still come just for Nadine’s food if they
do not draw lucky for a hunting permit.
During Nadine’s lifetime she held various church positions including primary teacher for over 20
years. But her favorite position was with dad by her side as Grover Ward and later Star Valley
Stake Young Married Leaders. She was extremely compassionate, generous, and a champion
of the downtrodden. Teenagers in the area knew if they needed a safe place to spend a night,
Nadine would take them in.
She is survived by her children, Linda Jensen Spann (Donnie) of Clarksville, Tennessee,
Grover, Wyoming, Jeffrey Keith Jensen (Laura Faye), Grover, Wyoming, Kathy Jensen Horsley,
(Dennis), and Brett Jensen (Susan), of Grover, Wyoming Preceded in death by one daughter
Geraldine Jensen Steed (Sid), Grover, Wyoming, and in total over 100 grandchildren, great-
grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
Preceded in death:
Spouse: Keith C. Jensen
Parents: Alta Aland Murphy and Pat Murphy
Daughter: Geraldine Velma Jensen Steed
Grandsons: Edward Keith Gardner, Chance Jeffery Jensen, K.C. Jensen, Seth Jensen,
Granddaughter: Katie Loretta Jensen
The Jensen family would like to thank the Grover Ward Church and Relief Society, Symbii Hospice Care, Schwab Mortuary, and many others who have helped make our burden lighter
during this trying time.
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