Vadis Jewell Jensen

Vadis Jewell Jensen, the daughter of Louis and Annette (Juhl) Bengaard, was born September 7, 1926, at her parents’ home near Brayton, Iowa and died April 12, 2015, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 88 years, 7 months, and 5 days.
Vadis attended the Exira Community Schools and the Exira High School. She then was employed at the Skelly Gas Station in West Exira, Iowa for several years.
On October 26, 1946, she was united in marriage to Russell August “Toy” Jensen in Troy, Kansas. Four children Jerry, Cindy, Brenda, and Jeff were born to this union. They lived in Newton, Iowa and then Jefferson, Iowa for a few years before returning to Exira. During this time Vadis was a homemaker helping to raise their family. In 1961 they purchased a tavern in Exira. Vadis helped Russell “Toy” operate the tavern until they retired in 1992. During retirement they enjoyed traveling and visiting family. Toy died on February 14, 2005, Vadis lived in her home until she moved to the Exira Care Center in December of 2013. Vadis enjoyed dancing, gardening, quilting, and was an accomplished artist creating numerous beautiful paintings. She always loved animals and had many pets. Vadis was an avid golf fan and spent many hours cheering for Tiger Woods as she watched the tournaments on her television.
Preceding her in death was her husband Russell “Toy” Jensen; her parents; her brothers and sisters: Ila Mae Bengaard, Lois and husband Harold “Tiny” Kommes, JoEllen and husband Nels Christensen, Wanda and husband Leonard “Tiny” Flathers, Elaine and husband Tony Kommes, Maxine and husband Lyndon Hansen, and Juhl Larry and wife Lucille Bengaard; and her sister-in-law Esther Bengaard.
Survivors include her children Jerry and wife Connie Jensen of Larkspur, Colorado, Cindy Metz of Ankeny, Iowa. Brenda and husband Reggy Crawford of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Jeff and wife Joanie Jensen of Atlantic, Iowa; her grandchildren Traci and Wade Snyder of Burlington, Vermont, Terri and Nate Radcliffe of Fort Worth, Texas, Chris and Tori Sorensen of Ankeny, Iowa, Carrie and Tom Roskins of Avoca, Iowa, Mindy Jensen of Audubon, Iowa, Kelly and Aaron Williams of Marne, Iowa, and Corey Crawford of Minneapolis, Minnesota; 7 great grandchildren; her brothers Jed Bengaard of Dedham, Iowa, and Terry “Buzz” and wife Hazel Bengaard of Exira, Iowa, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The Celebration of Life Memorial Graveside Service will be conducted by Pastor Dwayne Ferguson on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at 10:30 A.M. at the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa. Inurnment will be in the Exira, Cemetery in Exira, Iowa.