Ken Jensen

Melburn Kenneth Jensen passed from this life on Friday, January 22nd, 2021. The eldest child of Melburn and Leah Jensen, Ken was raised in Mesquite, Nevada. A firm believer in our Savior Jesus Christ, he focused his life on family, service, and education.

Ken served faithfully in many roles within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints during the whole of his life. He loved his mission to Florida in his youth and served as a Seminary Instructor, Bishop, and the Mesquite Nevada Stake's first high council. He studied the scriptures diligently and could quote and apply many passages to one's daily life. Fiercely patriotic, Ken believed The United States was founded and protected by the hand of God.

After attending school at Dixie College and Brigham Young University, Ken graduated from University Nevada Las Vegas. He started his teaching path at Garside Junior High in Las Vegas, coaching tennis, then moving to Rancho High School to coach Junior Varsity football and basketball as an assistant coach. During this time, Ken was sealed to his dear wife Cheryl in the St. George Temple in 1969.

An avid sports fan, he delighted in coaching and mentoring athletes. Ken spent nearly 40 years with youth teaching and coaching athletics at Virgin Valley High School. He coached football, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling during his tenure, mentoring many school record holders and state champions.

He delighted in his family and enjoyed singing and wrestling with his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed family reunions and thrilled in the accomplishments of each family member. He is remembered lovingly by his wife Cheryl of 51 years, whom he cherished and loved, and their nine children: Boe (Monique), Alisha (Darin), Lance (Amy), Amy (Jacob), Amanda (Brandon), Angelina, Aarin, Annette (Ryan), Analiese (Tom) and his 24 grandchildren.

Ken's patriotism pushed him to serve his community. He went before the Nevada State Legislature to charter the Virgin Valley Water District and was President of the Mesquite Farmstead Water Association. He also water witched the largest producing well for the water company and was published in an article in the Los Angeles Times.

Ken was welcomed into paradise by his mother and father, brothers Larry and Rodney and is survived by his sister Christine (Dan), and brothers Jeff (Vicki), Andrew (Janelle), Kelly (Karla), Paul (Diane), Richard (Denise) and Phillip (Katrina).

To our Husband, Father, Brother, Mentor, Friend and Gardner, we share the thoughts of Alfred Lord Tennyson, "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever."

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to a missionary fund for his grandchildren.

Visitation will be at the Whipple Chapel, 121 Whipple Ave, Mesquite, NV on Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. and on Friday, January 29, 2021 from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m.  Funeral Services will be by invitation only but the public is invited to watch via Livestream.

A link to the LA Times article is as follows: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-11-mn-22698-story.html

The family invites you to leave a message or memory in their Guest Book at www.virginvalleymortuary.com.