Jane Jensen Ward

Jane Elizabeth Jensen Ward joined her loved ones in Heaven July 6, 2025, surrounded by family and according to her plan. She lived her life with love, confidence, kindness, open -mindedness, determination and an independent spirit.

Jane was welcomed into this World by Jack and Betty Jensen July 2, 1946 in Concord, California. Five years later she was joined by her beloved brother, Jack. She grew up in Walnut Creek, CA and as a child enjoyed Mel’s Drive-in, baseball, attending dances, the Walnut Festival, family gatherings and camping and road trips in her family’s Volkswagen camper. Some of Jane’s fondest memories were made with her lifelong best friend and neighbor, Carol Wiley. Jane also enjoyed trips to San Francisco with her family to eat at Tokyo Sukiyaki and make memories at Play Land at the beach. She loved to tell the story of her experience ushering at a performance of the Nutcracker at the San Francisco Opera House with her Girl Scout troop, #277, led by Mrs. Vida Dawson. She belonged to that troop until she graduated from Las Lomas Highschool in 1964.

Shortly after graduation , Jane attended Business College for a semester and then entered the workforce full time. She took pride in her work and attention to detail and was able to return to many jobs later since she left on good terms. In the summer of 1968, she quit her job and headed out in a Lavender pick-up truck with her friend Bev. They traveled to Mexico and across the U.S., camping, meeting new people and visiting friends and family. This trip led to many notable stories like seeing a bust of President Kennedy, randomly but reverently placed on the side of the road in Mexico, but the most notable story of all is her meeting the love of her life, Larry Ward, in a beer joint in Wichita Kansas. He “took the short one” and asked her to marry him that night. The next morning they had breakfast together and went swimming and then Jane and Bev continued on their way. Shortly thereafter, Jane called Larry from New York to accept his proposal.

On Tuesday, December 3, 1968, Jane and Larry were wed in Colorado Springs, Colorado. About a month later Larry was sent to Vietnam and Jane returned to California to be close to family, and returned to work at John Muir Hospital. In June of 1969, Larry returned home to San Francisco from Vietnam after having been injured in combat. Jane visited him at the hospital every day after work and once was yelled at by a female Colonel for laying in his bed with him.

After Larry recovered, they settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. While Larry attended college and worked, Jane went to work at Blue Cross in Oakland where she was commended and promoted for her fabulous work ethic and enjoyed the cultural diversity of her work environment.

In February, 1972, she gave birth to their first child, Andrew John, and was so excited to make her parents Grandparents. The little family moved to Montana, a place she would consider home for the rest of her life. First, they enjoyed their time in Missoula and then settled in Thompson Falls in 1976. In October of that year, Amy Elizabeth was born. Immediately after her birth, Jane said to Larry “one more might not be bad” and Matthew Jensen was welcomed in January of 1979.

Full time work, the growing and preserving of food, and spending time with her young family and her parents kept Janie on the go. Somewhere in between all that, she made time to attend all of her children's school and sporting events, lead a Girl Scout troop, volunteer with the Red Cross, deliver Meals on Wheels, work with the Democratic Central Committee, go fishing and camping, and of course, watch football!

Jane’s life did not slow down when her children left the nest. When her first grandchild, Rachel, was welcomed into the family, Jane became the World’s most devoted Grandma. Many more grandchildren brightened her life and she became famous for spoiling her grandkids on annual birthday trips, where memories were made, good food was eaten and snuggling and laughter were plentiful. Jane continued to support her kids and grandkids in all their pursuits until the end. During this phase of life, she joined a softball team and had a ball for two years, continued to work hard as a bookkeeper and enjoyed road trips to visit family with Larry.

On her 69th birthday she ate a bismarck donut with a candle in it and then loaded up for a move to Columbia Falls to be closer to family. After she and Larry moved, Jane continued to enjoy birthday trips, including her own 70th birthday party, visits and holidays with family and extended family and being ever present in the lives of her kids and grandkids.

Stupid COPD, lung cancer and a few other health issues limited Jane’s ability to be as independent and active as she once was. She welcomed in person visits, phone calls, texts and cards and loved keeping in touch. She lost her brother Jack and then her husband Larry and was crushed, but she remained ever positive, which granted her a quality of life that many people in her situation do not have. Some people called her the energizer bunny and she referred to herself as a whack a mole, she just kept going. Leaving the house was a chore, but Jane looked forward to getting out and made it her mission to brighten the day of anyone she came in contact with, a smile, a chat, a laugh or maybe a silly pun would usually do it. When life was hard, Jane would often comment that once, she got to travel around the country in a lavender pick-up truck. We don’t think she lost at whack a mole, she just got tired of playing.

Jane lived life to the fullest. She was kind, honest and determined, worked hard, held a treasure of family history, was witty and sharp, took lots of pictures and videos, knew many random things and loved like no other person we’ve known.

Many supportive, caring professionals and kind people helped Jane to stay with us for as long as she did. The family is immensely grateful to Lauren Dillard and Michael Ward, Margie, Karene, Robbi, John and the other meals on wheels folks, who enabled Jane to live and laugh at home, surrounded by reminders of all of the beautiful facets of her life. She touched the lives of many and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Jane joined these loved ones in Heaven; her parents Jack and Betty, husband of 55 years Larry, brother Jack, many brothers and sisters in law,and her grandson Thorin.

She is survived by her sons, Andrew and Matthew Ward; daughter Amy (Besaw); son-in-law, Kenn Besaw; grandchildren Rachel, Jordan, Dillin, Ameerah, Tesla, Brighton, Opal, Michael, Jonathan, Sabrina, Raeleigh, and Braxton; and great grandchildren, Tucker and Quinn. She is also survived by her Sister in law, Catherine and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at the group site at the Thompson Falls State Park on August 3 at 2:00pm with a small meal and celebration of her life to follow. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.