Clara Belle M. Jenson

JENSON — Clara Belle M. (Adkins), 81; born Nov. 1, 1932, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; died Feb. 28, 2014, Collegedale, Tenn. Surviving: sons, Rod, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Russ, Collegedale, Tenn.; brother, Howard Adkins, Vancouver, Wash.; and 3 grandchildren, Olivia Faouri, Amman, Jordan; Bentley Jenson and Calvin Jenson, both of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and many nieces and nephews.

She grew up in Washington State and Oregon and met her husband, Bill Jenson, at the Stateline Church. They married in 1952 while at Walla Walla College and in 1955 moved to Alaska. Clara Belle assisted her husband who taught in a mission school and pastored several churches in Anchorage, Dillingham, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. 

In 1966 they moved from Alaska to Peru to continue as missionaries primarily stationed at the Lake Titicaca Mission in the Andes. Several years of team effort were spent in pastoral ministry in Washington State and Oregon and in 1975 she graduated as a Registered Nurse while in Seattle, Wash. 

In the 1980s & 90s while Bill worked at the ADRA Headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., they also served on several short term assignments around the world in addition to her working at Washington Adventist Hospital. She was an avid reader and enjoyed studying language, health, psychology and theology. Being a farm girl she enjoyed getting her hands in the soil and was regularly out in the yard tending flowers, shrubs, vegetables, bird feeders, etc. She lived a rich and enriching life and true to her desire died at her home place. She was preceded in death by her husband. 

A memorial service was held March 8, 2014 at the Apison Church in Tennesse. Interment will be held at a later date in Washington state.