William F. “Bud” Jenson, 85, Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Albert Lea and Mankato, died Saturday, June 21 in his Mesa residence.

Born Jan. 24, 1918 in Albert Lea, he was the son of J. Chris and Ruth L. (Springer) Jenson. Bud grew up in Albert Lea and was a 1936 graduate of Albert Lea High School. Bud and Elizabeth A. “Betty” Hanson were married on Oct. 3, 1938 in Albert Lea. Bud was a charter member of the Grace Lutheran Church of Albert Lea and had served as president of the congregation. He was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in Albert Lea, was a member and past Commander of VFW Post #447 of Albert Lea, had been a member of the Albert Lea American Legion, the School District #241 School Board, and was a charter member and past president of the Mankato Hilltop Kiwanis Club. A Navy Veteran of WWII, Bud served with the 31st Special Sea Bees in the Pacific Theater. While in Albert Lea, Bud had worked at Wilson & Co. and for several years at the Albert Lea Foundry. While in Mankato, Bud worked for the Dodson Company Foundry from 1969 until his retirement. Since his retirement, Bud had worked at the Southwest Auto Auction in Chandler, Ariz. for several years. Bud and Betty had been residents of Mesa Arizona since 1985.

Survivors include his wife, Betty, daughters; Barbara (Roger) Reese of Clarks Grove and Paulette (Durin L.) Smith of Coleraine, Minn., a son, William R. Jenson of Minneapolis, grandchildren; Kathy A. Girard of Clarks Grove, John E. (Adrianna) Reese of San Jacinto, Calif., Lisa A. Smith of Coleraine, and Darrin S. Smith of Owatonna, a great-grandson, Samuel J. Smith of Virginia, Minn., and two sisters, Dorothy Kessler of Falls Church, Va. and Lucille Nelson of Rochester.

His parents, J. Chris and Ruth Jenson, a grandson; Jason L. Smith, four brothers; Lyle, Ray, Jim and David Jenson and two sisters; Marion VanDenover and a sister in infancy preceded him in death.

Visitation will be 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Monday, June 30, 2003 in Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea and will continue from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 in the Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea with the Rev. Todd Walsh officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Albert Lea.