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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Sheila Jensen
Sheila
Jensen
January 30, 1955 – August 24, 2014
Sheila Jensen's Obituary
Sheila Helliwell Jensen 59, passed away Sunday, August 24, 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer. The Family and friends take comfort in knowing she is with her Lord and Savior and is no longer suffering.
Sheila (better known as Mrs. J) was born in Leicester, England, January, 30 th , 1955 to parents Fred and Doreen Helliwell of Syston, England. Attending school in Syston and graduating from Roundhill College, Mrs. J spent a few years in administration and secretarial jobs before transitioning to sales and marketing. She spent many years developing her career with weekly and daily newspapers, receiving regional and national media awards along the way including prestigious EMAP awards in 1994 for Advertising Innovation, and for Advertisement of the Year. During those years she worked for the U.K newspapers The Melton Times, and the Kettering Evening Telegraph, among others. Mrs. J moved to the U.S.A. in 1996, staying briefly in Georgia before settling in Harvey, ND in 1997 and began working at KHND in the sales department.
She learned to love Harvey and its' people, and while working at KHND, she met and married the love of her life, Rick Jensen on June, 10th, 2000. In 2002, Mrs. J and Rick had the opportunity to acquire KHND along with Paula Selensky from the previous owners and their radio adventure really began. Mrs. J served as president and general manager of KHND until her passing, making many lifelong friends along the way and endearing herself to the community at large. Her spare time was spent cleaning up after Rick (which is a full time job), RVing in the Spring and Summer, and enjoying the company of the 'Crafty Ladies' Homemakers Club. Mrs. J said the only downfall to being married to Rick was the constant attention they received from the Paparazzi, "They camp out on our door step, hide in trees, follow our vehicles, just to get a photo of my 'celebrity' husband Rick!!" Her keen wit and love a joke will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She also served as president of the Harvey Convention and Visitor's board, the Harvey Council of the Arts, and was a board member of the Harvey Chamber of Commerce. From 2003 to 2007, she was a member of the board of directors of the North Dakota Broadcasters Association. Her years may have been few but they were full of accomplishments, both personal and professional. On September 28 th , 2009 another milestone was reached when she became a naturalized U.S. citizen, being sworn in at the Quentin Burdick Federal Building in Fargo. England's loss was truly our gain, as she embraced citizenship and a love of this new country of hers with a gusto that she approached everything in her life with.
Sheila (better known as Mrs. J) was born in Leicester, England, January, 30 th , 1955 to parents Fred and Doreen Helliwell of Syston, England. Attending school in Syston and graduating from Roundhill College, Mrs. J spent a few years in administration and secretarial jobs before transitioning to sales and marketing. She spent many years developing her career with weekly and daily newspapers, receiving regional and national media awards along the way including prestigious EMAP awards in 1994 for Advertising Innovation, and for Advertisement of the Year. During those years she worked for the U.K newspapers The Melton Times, and the Kettering Evening Telegraph, among others. Mrs. J moved to the U.S.A. in 1996, staying briefly in Georgia before settling in Harvey, ND in 1997 and began working at KHND in the sales department.
She learned to love Harvey and its' people, and while working at KHND, she met and married the love of her life, Rick Jensen on June, 10th, 2000. In 2002, Mrs. J and Rick had the opportunity to acquire KHND along with Paula Selensky from the previous owners and their radio adventure really began. Mrs. J served as president and general manager of KHND until her passing, making many lifelong friends along the way and endearing herself to the community at large. Her spare time was spent cleaning up after Rick (which is a full time job), RVing in the Spring and Summer, and enjoying the company of the 'Crafty Ladies' Homemakers Club. Mrs. J said the only downfall to being married to Rick was the constant attention they received from the Paparazzi, "They camp out on our door step, hide in trees, follow our vehicles, just to get a photo of my 'celebrity' husband Rick!!" Her keen wit and love a joke will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She also served as president of the Harvey Convention and Visitor's board, the Harvey Council of the Arts, and was a board member of the Harvey Chamber of Commerce. From 2003 to 2007, she was a member of the board of directors of the North Dakota Broadcasters Association. Her years may have been few but they were full of accomplishments, both personal and professional. On September 28 th , 2009 another milestone was reached when she became a naturalized U.S. citizen, being sworn in at the Quentin Burdick Federal Building in Fargo. England's loss was truly our gain, as she embraced citizenship and a love of this new country of hers with a gusto that she approached everything in her life with.
Mrs. J had been baptized into the Church of England as a girl, but when she and Rick married she was accepted upon proclamation of faith into the congregation of the St. Martin Lutheran Church LCMS of Anamoose, ND and over the ensuing years her faith deepened and matured. Sheila was the Chief Accounting Steward for St. Martin Lutheran Church for the last 5 years until the time of her death.
Her battle with cancer took everything away from her except her love for Rick and her family and friends, and her faith in her Lord and Savior. In the end, that proved more than enough to sustain her through the fight.
Mrs. J was preceded in death by her father, Fred Helliwell, brother David Helliwell, and sister-in-law Marion Helliwell.
Left to mourn her passing but rejoicing in her peace are, husband Rick of Harvey ND, Mother Doreen Helliwell of Syston, England, brother Brian Helliwell (Fay)of Leicester, England, brother John Helliwell of Leicester, England, sister Jude Deamon (Richard) of Marleborough, Wiltshire, England, Sister-in-law Cheryl Jensen Budeau of Minot ND, Sister-in-law Diane Jensen Albrecht (Mark) of Cincinnati, OH, sister-in-law Sue Jensen Bull (Ray) of Fredericksburg Virginia, brother-in-law Vail Jensen of Minot, ND and Shadow, her beloved kitten that wandered into her life one day and quickly took over the radio station.
The family would like to thank the staff at Harvey's St. Aloisius Medical Center for caring for Mrs. J during her last days, and would thank also the local community of friends whose tremendous spirit of caring and prayers sustained them throughout this whole journey. They also wish to offer a special thanks to Reverend Larry Marschner who's many visits bringing prayers and communion comforted and strengthened Mrs. J and the family.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday Aug. 28 on at St. Martin's Lutheran Church, Anamoose, ND.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday (today) until 6 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Hertz Funeral Home in Harvey. Visitation will continue from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday evening at the KHND "Tower Town Site" on Harvey's south edge.
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