Eldon Skjold Jensen

Eldon Skjold Jensen, 82, longtime Lemmon, SD area Funeral Director passed away peacefully at his home in Lemmon, SD on Friday evening, June 6, 2025.  

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon, SD.  Rev. Allen Wickstrom will officiate and burial with Full Military Honors will follow at Greenhill Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025 at the Prince of Peace Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, SD.  

Eldon Skjold Jensen was born in Faith, SD on Dec 9th, 1942 to Jens Peder (JP) & Ida (Hegre) Jensen. The youngest of seven children, Eldon grew up on the Jensen Ranch 5 miles east of Faith, SD. He attended grade school in Faith and graduated from Faith High School in 1960.

After completion of his first year of college at South Dakota State in the summer of 1961, Eldon started an internship with Evanson Funeral Home in Lemmon, SD under the direction of Richard “Dick” and Vernon “Evie” Evanson.    

Upon graduating with a degree in Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota in the Spring of 1963, Eldon returned to Lemmon. He received his South Dakota funeral director license in January, 1964, which he maintained for more than 61 years.  

He joined the South Dakota National Guard in February 1965 where he served in the 211th Engineer Company until his honorable discharge in February 1971.

Eldon met and then married the Lemmon High School home economics teacher, Mary Jean Steinheuser on November 14th, 1965. They welcomed four children into their family - Derek, Kari, Greg and David.

   Evie and Eldon became business partners in 1968 and Evanson-Jensen Furniture & Funeral Homes began. Evie & Ollie were instrumental in establishing Eldon & Mary Jean as business owners in Lemmon. Eldon remained active in the community through Calvary Lutheran Church,     Lions Club, the Masons, elected City office, Lemmon Economic Development & support for   numerous local causes. Eldon was very proud of Lemmon and always ready to boast about his “hometown”. 

The Funeral Home expanded in 1975 when Eldon and Evie purchased the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church north of Lemmon.  They moved the building to its present location on 7th Ave West.  Expansion of the Funeral Home business continued with the purchases of Funeral Homes in Mott, Elgin & Hettinger ND along with establishing a location in his hometown of Faith and construction of the Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche, SD.

In addition to running a demanding business with a quickly growing family, Eldon successfully served two terms in the South Dakota State Senate, representing the counties of Butte, Harding, Perkins & Corson from 1977-1980. Following his time in Pierre, SD, he served as the Perkins County Republican Party Chairman for many years.  

Upon his retirement, with his son Greg continuing the business of Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes, Eldon and Mary Jean spent time between their homes in Lemmon & Venice, FL.  “Bumpa and Gramma” attended their grandchildren’s special events as much as possible.

Eldon passed away peacefully on Friday, June 6th at home in Lemmon with Mary Jean by his side. 

He was preceded in death by his son & daughter in law, David and Amber Jensen; his parents, J.P. and Ida Jensen; siblings Edythe Dexheimer, Folmer Jensen, Edwin Jensen, Margaret Burnett, Marie Ingalls and Volmer Jensen.  

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of almost 60 years, Mary Jean Jensen; son Derek (Mitz) Jensen, Marion, IA; daughter Kari (Kyle) Jensen Thomas, Cottage Grove, MN; son Greg (Tonya) Jensen, Hettinger, ND and ten grandchildren - Jaleigh Jensen, Salt Lake City, UT; Colten Jensen, Raleigh, NC; Olivia Thomas, Cottage Grove, MN; Mackenzie Jensen, El Paso, TX; Zachary Thomas, Milwaukee, WI; Whitney Jensen, Marion, IA; Ella Jensen, Hettinger, ND; Laela Jensen, Hettinger, ND; Jacob Jensen, Marion, IA and Jaeda Jensen, Hettinger, ND.

In lieu of flowers, a Memorial will be established by the family.  Condolences to the Jensen family can be sent through our website at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com