May (Fritz) Jensen

May Jensen, 97, Fargo, ND passed away peacefully on November 7, 2021 at Essentia after a brief hospitalization.

May was born on May 31, 1924 to Hattie and Carl Fritz in Chaffee, ND. Family lore has it that she was born at midnight on the last day of May. Since her birthday could be either in May or June, her parents marked her birth by naming her May June (later in life, her young sons relished teasing that her name was really May, June, July. August and September). Her siblings were sister Gladys, brothers Carl and Morris Fritz. She also had a step brother, Chester Fritz, who became a major benefactor to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND.

May attended school in Chaffee where she was active in basketball. She graduated high school in 1941 and remained close to her seven classmates throughout her life. She began to date her eventual husband, Keith Jensen. Their relationship was paused when Keith enlisted in the US Navy to fight in WWII in 1944.

While Keith was assigned to a Navy destroyer in the Pacific theater, May for a time worked at the Boeing Aircraft factory in Seattle as a 'Rosie the Riveter', building B-29 Stratofortress bombers for the war effort. After Keith's discharge from the Navy, they were married on Jan 3, 1947 and settled on a farm near Alice, ND.

They had seven children. Keith built a successful business, Jensen Bros. Construction and May was active in St. Peter's Lutheran Church in rural Leonard, ND and Chaffee school parent groups. After retiring, May began teaching ceramic classes in their home and they traveled to many area craft shows to display her work. May also enjoyed scrapbooking throughout her life. They spent winters in Arizona where they enjoyed making new friends, social activities and playing cards until Keith's death in 2006. May then moved to Edgewood in Fargo where she lived until her death.

May was preceded in death by Keith and daughter Nancy Hart. She is survived by daughter Diane (Larry) Palluck, Davenport, ND, sons Charles 'Jim' (Sherry) of Chaffee, Dean, Florence, AZ, Steven, Jacksonville, FL, Kent (Jenise) and Robin (Cindy), both of Chaffee. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Visitation: Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 from 6 to 7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM at St. Peter Lutheran Church, rural Leonard, ND.

Funeral: Friday, Nov. 12 at 10:30 AM at St. Peter Lutheran Church with visitation one hour prior.

Interment: Watson Cemetery, rural Leonard.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

The funeral will be available to watch on Friday by 2 pm.  The recording will be shown below.

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