Alta M. Jensen, 97
Alta M. Jensen, 97, died at Brendan House in Kalispell on Feb. 14, 2012, of natural causes.
Alta was born May 10, 1914, in Butte, the daughter of Howard and Mabel Brecktel.
She lived there until her marriage to Lloyd “Dick” R. Jensen on Sept. 29, 1934, in Butte. The couple moved to Alberta where their four children were born. In 1948, the family moved to Kalispell, and in 1951 they moved to a farm near Somers.
Raising their four children on the farm and working part-time at the F.W. Woolworth store in Kalispell kept Alta busy over the years. She was also active for many years in the Lower Valley Garden Club.
In 1964 the farm was sold, and Alta and Dick moved to Kalispell where Alta enjoyed bowling, bingo, volunteering for various agencies, and spending time with friends at Sykes’ Restaurant.
Alta was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd “Dick” Jensen in 1992; her parents, Howard and Mabel Brecktel; her brother, Sidney Brecktel (killed in action in World War II); and a great-grandson, Ryan Soderstrom, of Fairbanks, Alaska.
Surviving Alta are four children, Beverly and Jay Schmeeckle of Kalispell, Deanna and King Billedeaux of Sun City West, Ariz., Erwin and Linda Jensen of Yuma, Ariz., and Polson, and Linda and Jim Heim of Lakeside. Alta is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Sheryl Soderstrom, Karen Jam, Bill Soderstrom, LeAnn Meadows, Kathy VanBuskirk, Valerie Jones, Susette Gertsch, Louie Billedeaux, Steve Jensen, Nikki Marchant, Roberta McCaslin and Roger Heim. Alta is also survived by 25 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and two first cousins.
Visitation will be from noon to 5 p.m. today, Feb. 17, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Glacier Memorial Gardens. The family suggests memorials be made to Brendan House or Greenwood Village Assisted Living.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Alta’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Alta’s tribute wall.