LaDell Roy “LR” Jensen, known to all as Dell, of Seneca SC, finished his “to-do list” on September 13, 2021, at the age of 91. He leaves a wide legacy. Born September 4, 1930, in Westbrook Minnesota, to Roy and Irene Jensen he came of age during the Great Depression and World War 2. After graduating High School, he enlisted in the United States Army following the start of the war in Korea. While in training in Atlanta he met Stella Johns, the love of his life. He shortly deployed to Okinawa repairing war damaged equipment and was quickly promoted to SGT and supervision of the facility. He often said that the discipline and responsibility he learned in the Army helped guide his life of service.
After the long years of letter writing, he left the Army and married Stella July 25, 1953. Their family soon grew, to include 5 children:
Mike (Lynn), of England, Jerry, of Seneca SC. Janis (John), of Cedar Creek, TX, Karla, of Elgin, TX, and Karen, (deceased, 2017) of Seneca, SC. He is also survived by his sister Loy Peterson of Westbrook, MN.
Dell started his engineering career at Lithonia Downlighting. He transferred from Lithonia, GA to Crawfordsville, IN, to become plant manager at their new Hi-Tek facility then to the Hi-Tek plant in Vermillion OH, as manager of Engineering, then back to Crawfordsville in the late 80s. He and Stella retired to Seneca, SC in the mid-90s, so Stella could return to the South, and he could fish on the beautiful lakes.
Dell and Stella traveled the country, collecting Fenton and Westmoreland baskets, and crackle glass pitchers. (Every pitcher tells a travel story!!) They became grandparents: Isis Orlowski (Jason), Nicholas Jensen (Harmony), Lindsay Voyles (Travis), Jakob Jensen. They were loving extended grandparents: Jennifer and Lyndsey Dowell, Chris Ramsey (Rhonda), Chad Ramsey, Jeanette Bandell (Rick), Chris Harris. Their great grandchildren are Alexandria, Nicolette, Josephine, Brandon, Aaron, Jacob, Cale, Marlee, Piper, TJ and Samantha.
Stella’s health declined over the years, and Dell became her primary caregiver. He tended to every need, from traveling, to cooking to doctor appointments to medications. His commitment to love, honor, and care for her was honored until she passed February 5, 2013.
Dell was a proud patriot. He always wanted to be sure that every veteran received support and honor. He was a life member of the American Legion, and the VFW. He served on the American Legion honor guard, as bugler for many years and instituted a flag collection and retirement system that collected over 10,000 flags in the Seneca South Carolina area. His service included school visits with the Legion, teaching young people about our country and its unique place in history.
His passion for engineering, woodworking, gardening, and history was obvious to all. Anyone who spent time with Dell learned something and was encouraged to “make it happen.”
Thanks for all the life lessons and love. Daddy/Dad/Pops/Grandpa/Great Papa Dell/LaDell/La/Ladle!
He is seen raising the flag at his Home Post, the Charles McGee Byrd American Legion Post in Seneca, South Carolina on this YouTube video.