Einer D. Jensen

Einer D. Jensen, age 92 of Brooten died Thursday, July 22, 2021 at Copperleaf Assisted Living in Willmar, Minnesota. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 29th at St. Donatus Catholic Church in Brooten with Father David Grundman officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 28th from 5:00-7:00 at St. Donatus Catholic Church and will continue one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Interment will be in St. Donatus Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Brooten.  

Einer Jensen was born on February 20, 1929, to parents Sam and Elma (VanVickle) Jensen, just as the country was heading into what came to be known as the Great Depression. He was raised on a 20-cow dairy farm in Bangor Township, Pope County, along with his two brothers and three sisters. He attended District 31 country school through the 8th grade.  Einer was no stranger to hard work.  At the age of 18, he borrowed his dad’s John Deere B and started his own custom corn picking business, with a one row picker.

On April 7, 1953, Einer was united in marriage to Mildred W. “Minnie” Terhaar at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sedan. In 1960, they purchased a dairy farm in Bangor Township that became Einer’s home for the next 60 years. He and Minnie were blessed to raise their six children there, five daughters and one son. In addition to their dairy operation, they also raised corn, soybeans, alfalfa, oats, beef cattle, draft horses, chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep, bison, goats; you name it, they raised it.  Einer was especially proud of all the different animals they had on the farm.

Einer was well known for his love of draft horses. His horses were used to give sleigh rides and hayrides, often being called upon for weddings, proms and parades. Einer was even asked to carry Governor Rudy Perpich in a parade in Murdock. He and Minnie also held annual threshing bees at their farm. These were well attended and enjoyed by all. The two were gracious hosts and family and friends have countless memories of Sunday sleigh rides with get-togethers afterwards back at the farm. Sadly, Minnie’s life was cut short by cancer; she passed away at the age of 48.

On July 27, 1985, Einer married Beverly (Hanson) Magnuson, at St. Donatus Catholic Church in Brooten.  Bev joined Einer on the farm where she helped with chores and always had the coffee pot on for family and friends. With their marriage, Einer’s family grew to include Bev’s daughter and two sons along with their children. Einer and Bev shared 35 years of marriage before her death on January 12, 2021.

Einer was a faithful member of St. Donatus Catholic Church in Brooten, where he usually had candy in his pocket for after church treats for the youngsters. He enjoyed going for rides in the truck to check crops and weekly trips to the sale barn in Belgrade. In recent years, his favorite way to start each day was with biscuits and gravy at Tommy’s (the Ka-De Shack in Brooten).

After 90 years as a resident of Pope County, in 2020, Einer moved with his wife, Bev, to an assisted living apartment at Copperleaf in Willmar, where they received excellent care. He passed away there on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at the age of 92, surrounded by his family and under the care of Carris Hospice.

Einer was tough and funny, cracking people up with his quick wit, even to the end. He was deeply loved by his family and his family knew that the same love was returned to them.

Einer is survived by his six children, Bev (Randy) Pothen of Murdock, Jeanie (Roger) Shike of Brooten, Margie Nyffeler of Paynesville, Sam (Brenda) Jensen of Benson, Sandy (Rick) Alton of Miltona, and Jackie (Mike Wright) Setterberg of Spicer; 26 grandchildren; 45 great grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; stepdaughter, DeAnn (Darrell) Martins of Willmar; step daughter-in-law, Pam Magnuson of Willmar; sister-in-law, Vonnie (Joe) Hall of Pennock; two brothers-in-law, Raymond (Carol) Terhaar of Brooklyn Park and Johnny (Phyllis) Terhaar of Oak Grove; nieces, nephews and other relatives. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mildred “Minnie” in 1984; his wife Beverly in 2021; two stepsons, Scott and Jeff Magnuson; two brothers, Calvin and Edward; and three sisters, Elvie Jaeger, Esther Moore, and Elsie Kasianov.

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