Bruce Herbert Jensen

On May 7, Bruce Herbert Jensen died of natural causes at the age of 90.

Bruce was the first-born son of Svend L. Jensen, who’s family immigrated from Denmark, and Florence Herbert Jensen, from Redmond, Utah. He was raised close to nature on the Herbert Ranch, south of Scipio, Utah. As a young man attending North Sevier High School, he was student body president, played Center on the basketball team, was the leader of the marching band, and even won State as a discus thrower for the track team. It was during these years he fell in love with his high school sweetheart, his first wife Betty, with whom he later began his family and had his three children.

He attended college at Southern Utah University and The University of Utah. He has degrees in Engineering, Fine Arts, and Architecture. He became a licensed architect and spent his career in Educational Architecture. He was University Architect at the University of Utah for 30 years, and the campus Master Plan Designer for Utah Valley State College while Chief of Master Planning for the Utah State Building Board. He was proud to be distinguished as a Fellow in the Utah American Institute of Architects, and also a Fellow and President in the Association of University Architecture, both of these professional national organizations. At that time there were less than 20 architects in the US who had received such fellowships. It was during these years he divorced and then married his second wife, JoAnn Johnson Jensen, whom he referred to as his soul mate.
He was a member of the LDS Church, served as teacher in Priesthood and in the Bonneville High Counsel, and loved working and serving in the Salt Lake City Temple. He is the author of a book on the Book of Mormon and did research for years on ancient temples; he built models, made architectural drawings, and lectured widely including giving a slide illustrated lecture in the city of Jerusalem.

He loved art and was a skilled artist and painter; he was very proud to have designed the “Best of Parade” Days of ‘47 Parade sweepstakes winning float in 1979, built by the members of Monument Park First Ward.

He held the personal philosophy that the laws of nature are, in fact, the laws of God, and the compliance with these laws of order will increasingly lead to creations of the highest quality and beauty. He sincerely believed that “beauty” is one of the indispensable and basic needs of man, and felt that every living person has the divine charge to “replenish the earth” by helping preserve the beauties of the physical environment by giving back, and adding to, and helping to preserve the natural and manmade beauties of the world we live in.

Bruce suffered with dementia for the last years of his life. It wasn’t an easy experience. He and his family would like to thank the many friends and family members who visited him to remind him of pleasant times, people and memories in his life, and we’d also like to thank the caring and devoted staff at The Ridge Cottonwood where he lived his last few years. His family would also like to acknowledge and thank Mr. and Mrs. Kerry Belnap for the love, respect and care with which they helped care for Bruce and JoAnn in their decline. He is survived by his children, daughters Conne Forrest, grandchild Andrew Simmons, daughter Jennifer Jensen, son Bruce “Sandy” Jensen (wife Tracy), and grandchildren Shalese, Nicholas and Kelsey, as well as his adopted Vietnamese family Long Tang, UT and Doan and Hang Doan. Preceded in death by wife Joann Jensen, brother Steven Jensen, niece Jeanette Jensen, and son in law, Michael Forrest.

A Viewing will be held Friday, May 13th from 9:00 am to 10:30am at the Monument Park First Ward, 1005 South 2000 East. Funeral services will begin at 11:00am at the same ward. Interment and a short graveside service will be at the Redmond City Cemetery, Redmond, Utah on Saturday, May 14th at 11:00 am.