Leslie LaVerne Jensen, age 85, of Alpena, passed away Friday, March 17, 2023, at the Huron Regional Medical Center.

His funeral service will be held Saturday, March 25 at 11:00 a.m., at the First Presbyterian Church,Huron.His service will be live-streamed through the Kuhler Funeral Home website.

Burial will be in the Rest Haven Cemetery, Alpena. Military honors will be conducted by Visitation will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Kuhler Funeral Home, with his family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday evening. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Leslie LaVerne Jensen was born September 24, 1937, to Clifford and Nellie (Heggen) Jensen at Mitchell.

Leslie grew up in the Alpena area and attended all 12 grades atAlpena.Whileinhighschool, he participated in basketball, track, yearbook and class officer. In track, he pole-vaulted at theStateTrackMeetforseveral years, including the year he had to hitch hike to the meet.

Les continued his education at Blair, Nebraska where he played basketball for a short time.

He was a proud Marine, as heservedhiscountryfromJuly 31, 1956 to July 30, 1958 at Camp Pendleton, California. One job there was to drive people around, which included Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke.

On January 27, 1963, Les marriedMaryLouiseElliottat Woonsocket. They made their home at Alpena, where they raisedtheirfamilyfor60years.

Leslie played with the Alpena Amateur Baseball team and later managed the team. HealsoplayedwiththeAlpena Independent Basketball team, played slow-pitch and bowled.

Professionally, Les was a truck driver, livestock producer, corn shelling in all weather conditions,bondedcattleorder buyer sitting for hours at sales and partner in owning Jensen Grain.

Les and Mary Louise enjoyed traveling 35 states, following their grandchildren’s activities, watching basketball alloverandwatchingthebirds and squirrels out the window. He had an extensive collection of red birds, moose and hats. Theyalsoenjoyedmakingmultiple trips wherever Leo would send them. Les was famous for his statement “sleep on it.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Nellie Jensen; siblings and their spouses, John and Barbara Jensen, Lloyd Jensen, MarianandMartinAnderson, Jr. Ardis and Les Grace, Nellie Jensen at birth, Willis Jensen, Betty Jensen, Bobby Jensen; his parents-in-law, Orval and Sarah Elliott; and brother-inlaw, Charles Elliott.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Louise; two daughters, VaLynda (Todd) WellerofAberdeenandBrenda (Alan) Schmidt of Huron; one son, Leo (Annette Bowen) Jensen of Alpena; three grandchildren,KirbyWeller ofJamestown,NorthDakota, Sabrena (Robert) Brooks of Huron and Tabitha (Dylan) Unruh of Redfield; four great-grandchildren, Nolyn WellerandEzekiel,Ezraand ElizaBrooks;twobonuschildren, Kyle Uttecht and Kelly Uttecht;aswellasniecesand nephews that Les always enjoyed seeing, including the greats, great-greats and great-great-greats.

Memorials may be directed to the United Parish of Alpena. www.kuhlerfuneralhome.com