Melvin Franklin Jensen, 89, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at the Homestead in Rexburg, Idaho.

Melvin was born to Harold Leland Jensen and Dora Green on December 4, 1932, in Malhuer County, Oregon at what was then known as Oregon Annex, Weiser, Idaho. He was the second of three sons.

His early years were spent on farms in Weiser, Idaho; Clayton, Washington; and Chewelah, Washington. When he was in the eighth grade, the family leased some farmland on Kelly Hill near Boyds, Washington where he and his two brothers, Harold and Don, all graduated from Marcus High School.

Melvin started his adult life as a cowboy working a large cattle ranch in Idaho. It was at this time that he met Duana Butler, from Rexburg Idaho. They were married on May 28, 1952 in the Idaho Falls, Idaho temple. To this union were born four sons and one daughter.

In 1954 Melvin was drafted into the Military and served two years in the Army Security Agency at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. As with many, this service provided the opportunity for Melvin to attend college with the GI Bill. Upon his release from the service, he enrolled at Utah State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

After graduation his professional career began in Utah working for Hercules on the Minuteman Project. After seven and a half years, with a little urging from Duana to return home to Idaho, he left Hercules and secured employment at the Idaho National Engineering laboratory where he spent 28 years working on various nuclear reactor safety programs. It was this move that resulted in the Upper Snake River Valley becoming his home.

Melvin was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was active throughout his lifetime. He served in many wards and in many capacities. He was particularly fond of his time spent as a finance clerk in Grant, Idaho and in the temple baptistry in Idaho Falls. Through his church service he gained many friends.

His life's hobbies included Archery hunting in the Uintas, horses, raising Chinchillas, spending the summer camped at Heise, dragging the boys around Lake Palisade on water skis, golf, and of course, the design, building and remodeling of houses. There was always a project.

After retirement his engineering skills turned to humanitarian services. Melvin used his wood shop to design and create upwards of 30,000 wood toys for distribution through the church humanitarian services. He treasured a picture a of a child in Ecuador joyfully playing with one of his creations.

Melvin and Duana had five children. Wayne (Marie) Jensen of Rexburg, Wes (Sherrie) Jensen of Rexburg, Suzanne Jensen (deceased), Shawn (Dana) Jensen of Emmonk, Alaska, and Ben (Kim) Jensen of Rexburg. Lisa (Lee) Griffiths of Hyde Park, Utah (Duana's sister) became a de facto member of the family after losing her parents at an early age. At the time of passing, Melvin had (a bunch) of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was proceeded in death by his wife Duana, daughter Suzanne, and his brother Harold.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6 at the Rexburg 15th Ward Chapel, 166 South 1st East, in Rexburg, with Bishop Dennis Birch officiating. The family will receive friends that morning from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Sutton Cemetery under the direction of Flamm Funeral Home.

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