Billy James Jensen

Funeral Services for Billy J. Jensen will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Huntley, Nebraska with Pastor Ryan Findley officiating. Burial will follow at the Freewater Cemetery in rural Harlan County, Nebraska.

Billy James Jensen, 92 years of age, of Alma, Nebraska, formerly of rural Ragan, Nebraska, died on Sunday, June 4, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society Colonial Villa in Alma. Billy was born November 29, 1924 in Harlan County, Nebraska, the eldest of three children born to William Henry and Cloie (Woollen) Jensen. He was baptized and confirmed at the Community Church in Wilcox and later joined the Huntley United Methodist Church. He attended and graduated from Wilcox High School with the class of 1943.

Following his graduation, Billy worked for the Prisoner of War Camp at Atlanta, Nebraska. He then moved to Hastings, Nebraska and worked at the Ammunition Depot. In 1948, he joined the United States Army and served in the Signal Corp. He was honorably discharged in January of 1950. He returned to Harlan County and began is lifelong passion of farming, retiring in 1992.

On December 31, 1959, he was united in marriage to Louise Katherine (Diener) Sasse at the Hall County Court House in Grand Island, Nebraska. The couple made their home on a farm Southwest of Ragan and together they raised five children: Dennis, Dale, Gary, Judy and John.

He was a 57 year member of the United Methodist Church in Huntley, the American Legion in Wilcox, Nebraska and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and a Charter Member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3132 both of Holdrege, Nebraska.

Billy enjoyed hunting and watching Husker Baseball and Football.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Louise in 1999; daughter-in-law, Marlene Jensen; step-son, Dennis Sasse; three brothers-in-law: Dean Lind, Earl Diener and wife, Ardella, and John Diener; five sisters-in-law: Mary Fox and husband, Francis, Tillie Goracke and husband, Francis, Flora Greisen and husbands, Martin and Kenneth Forden, Leta May Diener and Gladys Diener.

Billy leaves to celebrate his life; his children: Judy Wade and significant other, Roy Ryan of Upland, Nebraska, Dale Jensen and wife, Debra of the family farm in rural Alma, Gary Jensen and wife, Sharon of Wilcox, and John Jensen and his fiancé, Shannon Helter of Lincoln; step daughter-in-law, Dianne Sasse of Lincoln, Nebraska; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and one anticipated great-grandchild in August; two great-great grandchildren; sisters, Mae Lind and Shirley Norberg and husband, Bernard, all of Holdrege; aunts, Helen Woollen and Doris Woollen, both of Holdrege; uncle, Norden Woollen and his wife, Mary Ann of Wilcox; along with several cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Wilcox.

A memorial has been established in Billy's honor and kindly suggested to the Huntley United Methodist Church.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Wilcox is in charge of the arrangements.