Diane Henricksen Jensen

1942 - 2024

- Our beloved mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, and friend, Diane Henricksen Jensen, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2024. She has been reunited with so many loved ones on the other side, including her eternal sweetheart, Bruce. While we will miss her, we know we will be reunited again someday. We are so grateful to know that families are forever.

Diane was born in Salt Lake City on January 21, 1942 to Joseph and Mary Henricksen. She was the second daughter of five children. Her health challenges came to her early in life as she contracted a rare form of Polio that left her body completely limp when she was less than 2 years old. She was put in an Iron Lung for many weeks. Her mother and aunts would continually put hot packs on her legs and exercise her muscles. Although it was a miracle that she came through Polio with relatively few disabilities, she always had muscle and lung weakness the rest of her life. Although she had limitations, Diane rarely complained and always had a smile on her face and an offer to help others.

Diane's family moved to Provo where they established a business with other family members called Allen's Grocery Stores with Mary's side of the family. They also established the fast food restaurants, the Hi-Spot. Diane had many fond memories working at both family businesses while she was a teenager. Diane attended Provo High School and loved it. She was very active and popular in high school and always had many friends. She served in student government as the Secretary and President of the Women's Association. She went to Girls' State. She continued helping with high school reunions for many years afterwards. She earned a full four year scholarship to Brigham Young University where she attended for a couple of years and served on the Junior AWS Council.

Diane married her eternal sweetheart and companion, Bruce Jensen on April 13, 1962 in the Salt Lake City Temple. They were very best friends and so in love. They honeymooned on their way to complete his Basic Training in the Army in Lawton, Oklahoma. They returned and raised their family in several areas including Provo, San Mateo, CA, then in Salt Lake City in Parleys area and then Cottonwood Heights, and then spent their final years together in South Jordan before Bruce passed away in 2019. Diane then moved to Orem to be closer to her children where she was cared for in Covington Assisted Living.

Together, Bruce and Diane had seven children, including one daughter who was stillborn. Diane was a wonderful mother who always taught and cared for her children with patience and kindness. She was always very involved, knew each of them well, and attended the many activities they were involved in.

Diane stayed at home with her children for many years and then returned to BYU where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Family Science. She was able to participate with her two oldest children as they graduated from BYU the same day. She worked as a Floral Designer, an Assistant Director for preschools and day cares, and as an Administrative Assistant at the University of Utah Bookstore and the IHC Heart Education Department.

Diane had a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was a lifelong faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many different callings throughout her life. She never doubted nor did she waver from her faith in Jesus Christ. She always strived to be a missionary to those around her and share her light and love of the gospel. She served as a missionary at the Hill Cumorah Pageant for a summer and later as a Stake Missionary before she was married. Bruce and Diane served as a missionary couple in the Leipzig, Germany mission, an experience they cherished. They were also able to serve as temple workers in the Jordan River Temple for many years. Diane loved the scriptures and studied them daily throughout her life.

Diane was a very talented artist. She painted many beautiful landscape oil paintings that she shared with her family and friends. She also was a talented floral designer. She loved nature and the beauty of it. She was an excellent cook and often hosted dinners for family and friends. She never wanted anyone to leave her home hungry or in need. She had a great talent for loving others and always shared her smile and kindness with everyone she came in contact with.

Diane was the second of five children. She is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Mary Henricksen, her older sister, Maryjo Brady and her younger brother, Allen (Marcia) Henricksen and her daughter, Mary Gwen; three grandsons, Kye Lemon, Gabriel Jordan, and Reese Jordan; and a great-grandson, Aiden Petersen.

She is survived by her two sisters, Margaret (Arnold) Parrot, and Yvonne Henricksen.

Diane is survived by her six children: Jerry (Cindy) Jensen, Elaine Lemon, Eric (Jennifer) Jensen, Allen Jensen, Stephanie (Jim) Coleman, and Cyndi (Ben) Jordan; 24 grandchildren: Mark (Kelly) Jensen, Candice (Trevor) Petersen, Dylan (Chantel) Jensen, Marisa (Nathan) Van De Graaff, Katie (Grant) Stowell, Bryce (Samira) Lemon, Alyssa Lemon, Derek (Mykala) Lemon, Connor (Kira) Lemon, McKell (Devon) Gurewitz, Seth (Karissa) Jensen, Jonah Jensen, Cassady Jensen, Eli Jensen, Bailey Coleman, Mae Coleman, Kylie Coleman, Kira Coleman, Skylar (Bradley) Schmidt, Nickolas Jordan, McKade Jordan, Alexis Jordan, Kaleia Jordan, and Isaiah Jordan, along with 13 great-grandchildren.

Many thanks to the wonderful staff and friends at Covington Senior Living of Orem who lovingly cared for Diane in her last few years and the wonderful care provided by Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary.

Services will be held on Sunday, April 7 with a viewing from 6-8 pm at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary located at 1007 W. South Jordan Pkwy, South Jordan, Utah. There will be an additional viewing there on Monday, April 8 from 10-11 am, followed by Family Memories and Prayer from 11-12 pm. Interment will follow at the Lehi Cemetery at 12:30 pm. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com.