Robert Erling Gordon Jensen

Robert Erling Gordon Jensen was born Sept. 13, 1930, to immigrants Ethel Winifred (Bodle) and Erling Alexander Jorken Jensen in Schenectady, New York. At the early age of 4, he moved with his family to Manchester, Connecticut, where he completed all his grade school education and then graduated from Manchester High School in 1948. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force to begin his long and illustrious career for the next 30 years. He was drawn to this endeavor when he took his first flight as a passenger in a 1927 Stearman open cockpit B1-Wing airplane piloted by his father's friend.

Our dad, "The General," passed away June 24, 2014, at home of natural causes at the age of 83 before he finished his obituary and now he is free of pain. His children will continue to tell the rest of his story.

On Sept. 4, 1952, he married the love of his life, Vivian E. Johnson, in Seattle. They enjoyed 61 years of love, companionship and mutual devotion. Dad was a 30-year chief master sergeant USAF veteran and they, along with the kids, were assigned duty throughout the United States and overseas. In 1974, they settled down in Hamilton and later moved to Missoula. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. "I have had a fruitful life," Dad told us when he was surrounded by his children in his last days.

Survivors include son, Michael (Lois) Jensen of Lake Havasu City, Arizona; two daughters, Lorri Larkin of Hamilton and Sandra J. Noblitt (Danny) of Missoula; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; his aunt, Olga Lionarons of New York; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother; father; brother, Wayne "Skip" Jensen of Connecticut; and the lady of his life, wife Vivian E. Jensen on June 9, 2013.

Thank you for special care by Dr. Stephen Tahta, Dr. Jeffrey Stephenson and the angels of Hospice of Missoula.

No funeral services were held in honor of his request. Cremation was provided by Cremation & Burial Society of the Rockies
Read Robert Jensen's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.