Carl DeVoy Jensen, 92, of Canistota, SD passed away upon ambulance arrival to the hospital in the early hours of Friday, April 24, 2026.
Carl was born on March 2, 1934 to Harvey and Lillie (Sorensen) Jensen at home on their family farm in rural Viborg area. He attended country school until the 8th Grade then began working for neighbors and his own family too, and saving money to proudly buy his first car – a “race” car! Carl shared, his two older sisters, Delores and Ardell, would buy him clothes so he looked good in that car too – “like Elvis!” Carl shared, his younger sister, Doris and him, were confirmed together from Spring Valley Lutheran Church, and baptized there as well. Later, Carl joined the U.S. Army Service for two years, stationed in Louisiana and Fort Bridger, Wyoming and shared of his training experiences, his work as a dental technician, and one cargo airplane flight in which the tail fell off the plane and the Enlisted were holding onto ropes, dangling in the air like a movie moment… and though they landed safely, Carl refused to get into another plane and walked all the way back to the Base, and he never flew again – period! Thank you for your Service!! Upon his return home, Carl returned to the family farm. Agricultural Farming was his dream along with livestock support, and became his successful lifelong pursuit, that produced a long-standing marriage to Mary L. Erickson, moving from rural Parker, SD to their final rural family farming operation in Canistota, SD and home, producing four children, and through their joint efforts, the Jensen Family farming dream continues to this day – thank you!! Work was 24/7, 365 days a year on the family farm, and growth came from walking beanfields to riding a bean buggy; baling hay bales to building stacks; gardening to fieldwork; machine sheds and one after another grain bins; livestock nursery to finishing houses; geese and chicken ventures; with the occasional card parties, precious birthdays and holiday celebrations, vacations, tornadoes… and push mower days to riding lawn mower times, when younger sisters Cheryl and Marlene could make the riding lawn mower tires spin – who knew! Farmkids learned soon enough what to do and what not to do fairly quick because time was money on the farm where rework costs, and the smell of money can vary… more importantly, take your family along on your dream, and don’t quit, and believe in yourself enough to keep harvesting your efforts… yet one of my most memorable farm life lessons from our Dad was during a Saturday morning Hog House cleaning time with brother Tim, who shared “she is in the way… too small to be out here helping” and stood not quite head-tall to the old manure spreader tire when using a small-size pitch fork to scoop that fresh fertilizer up-and-over, to which our Dad said, “Every little bit helps.” Yes, every little bit helps… everyone’s efforts matter… and YOU MATTER! A lesson, I share in the classroom to this day – thank you Dad! and thank you Mom, too!!
Carl remained close to his family and neighbors back home, and regularly chatted with many throughout the years sharing many stories, and regularly attended the Sorensen Family Reunion every last weekend in June and last year too… had reached the blessed status of Oldest Family Member, and then last month… celebrated his 92nd Birthday with four generations present, too! Many good stories heard from neighbors growing up in rural Viborg, and lifelong friend Mr. Donovan “Buddy” Madsen shared, “When my brother was 12 years old, my parents decided to go to Rapid City for a couple of days vacation, and they invited Carl Jensen along. They all had a great time. Carl was 16 years old.”
Upon his retirement, Carl traveled from coast-to-coast even across Canada with his lifelong friend and neighbor, Beverly Gross, who reached wife and second mom status, and whom Dad affectionately called “my sweetie.” They spent many wonderful years together on the farm – mowing the acreage, planting and caring for their apple trees; driving in their UTV checking on the crops and Lake Vermillion activities, and just cruising the hood; loved watching westerns, Gunsmoke, Yellowstone… but way too much CNN politics; regularly attending County Fairs and camping in their RV at SD State Fairs and with family at the Yankton shorelines; while hosting many family holiday celebrations at their farm, too – good memories that make the heart sing! During my last visit with our Dad on this past Wednesday afternoon, he smiled big and shared was “happy… Bev and I made the TV!” The Bethel Home had added a photo of Bev and him together from their last family reunion on their display TV – very cool indeed!! With Bev, came more family, too.
Dad and Bev were an “active” couple, out-and-about, and this activity kept Dad healthy for many years even up to his age of 92. Although recent months brought some health challenges and Dad moved to Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison, SD he was doing well – playing bingo, attending events and movies, exercising, making friends with Staff, driving his scooter a bit, and getting outside when warm weather permitted, and even his PT discontinued this past week, so his Friday passing was “sudden, unexpected” and a final lesson… to stay present in your moments.
Carl is survived by his sweetie/wife Beverly (Sioux Falls) and her children and grandchildren; his children – Timothy (Lisa) Jensen of Canistota, Theresa (Chris) Jensen of Brookings, Cheryl (Christopher) Jensen of Piedmont, and Marlene (Matthew) Kullbom of Piedmont; his grandchildren – Mary (Paul) Mantz, Breta Jensen, Tyler (Lacy) Jensen, Travis Jensen, Mikayla Kullbom, and Talan Kullbom; his great-grandchildren – Lillian, Amelia, Jace, and Lorraine; and his sister-in-laws Carol Zielger of Mitchell and Waneta Erickson of Garretson.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents; sisters; brother-in-laws; former wife Mary; nephews James and John Addison; and many neighbors, family, and friends. Carl was like his own mother Lillie, who outlived all their family – rest in peace.
Carl’s family would like to thank the Nurses, Staff, and Residents at the Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison for good care and adding quality to Carl’s life, and the Madison Regional Hospital Doctors and Staff; and the VA Hospital Doctors and Staff; the Avera Hospital, Urology, and Heart Hospital Doctors and Staff, and the Urology Specialists Surgeon and Staff for care over the years; and the end care provided by the Kinzley Funeral Home Staff of Salem – all your good extra-mile efforts were noticed and are not forgotten – thank you!
Family and friends are welcome to come to an Informal Gravesite Gathering to say good-bye, visit and share your Carl story, with a farm-style tailgate treat or two to enjoy and set for Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, from 1 to 3pm, at the Spring Valley Lutheran Danish Cemetery in rural Viborg. A very casual Danish affair. A more formal burial is pending. Thank you!
