Obituary

Richard “Dick” Joseph Jensen Sr., age 82, passed away at his home in Bellingham on Saturday November 10, 2018 from complications due to ALS. Dick was born in Bellingham, WA on April 7, 1936 and spent his early years on Lopez Island, WA. At the age of eleven, he moved to Seattle and in 1953 graduated from Roosevelt High School. After a year attending WWU, Dick enlisted in the United States Navy in June 1954 and married his childhood sweetheart, Connie Buffum of Lopez Island, in October of that year. After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1958, Dick and Connie set up residence in Bellingham, WA where they raised all three of their children. Dick took a job with Ennens Food Stores, Inc. – a company that he would loyally and joyfully serve for the next 40 years until his retirement in 1999. In the years after his retirement, Dick enjoyed being one of the owners of Cruisin’ Coffee.

Dick is remembered for his love of golf, travel, music, and his family (not necessarily in that order). He was a gifted singer (and whistler) and possessed a mischievous sense of humor and a very quick wit. Dick was an extremely generous person – the Christmas Eve celebrations that he and Connie presided over at their home for almost 40 years grew to include four generations of Jensens and have become the stuff of legend.

Dick was preceded in death by his father, Leroy Jensen, and by his mother, Beatrice Slavens. Dick is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Connie Fae Jensen, by his two sisters, Marilyn Pearson and Kathy Smith, and by his three children, Kandice McCallum, Richard Jensen Jr., and Christopher Jensen. He is also survived by six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and by his feline companion, Winston.

A memorial service for Dick will be held on Thursday December 13, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Moles Farewell Tributes – 2465 Lakeway Drive in Bellingham.