Edmund P. Jensen

Edmund Peter Jensen passed away peacefully on April 6, 2013 at Villa Maria Nursing home after recently being diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread to other areas of his body, with his family members Karen, Larry, Jo Marie, Nikki, Mike, Maren & Hanah at his side. Brandon was in to visit and Neil phoned from Kuwait the morning of Ed’s passing.

Ed was born March 24, 1932 to Peter and Esther Jensen in Breckenridge, MN. He was the second child of four and spent his childhood years in Breckenridge, where he later graduated from high school in 1951. He briefly attended U of M and later in life, he returned to college to finish his BS degree in 1983 at NDSU.

Ed met Arliss Jean Fluge while working for the railroad and they were later married on October 12, 1956. Ed and Arliss made their home in Fargo for the next 5 ½ decades. During this time, they raised three children, Karen, Jo Marie, and Neil. Both Ed and Arliss were committed to their community and were lifelong members of Hope Lutheran Church in North Fargo. Ed was a member of the Masonic Temple and El Zagal Shriners and volunteered his time to play the bagpipes in many events held by the Shriners.

Ed’s career was colorful, from working as a fireman for the Burlington Northern Railroad, to patrolman for the Fargo Police Dept. The highlight of his professional career was his 30 years of service in the ND Air Nation Guard. As “Chief of Security Police”, he ensured the safe guarding of Hector Field, but also ensured a professional security force that responded to several natural disasters during his tenure. Ed achieved the rank of CMSgt where he retired from the ANG in 1990.

Ed was an exceptional marksman and achieved great success at the national level of competition. As a Distinguished Rifleman, he won several regional matches and was the ND state small bore and high power rifle champion. Ed set, and still remains today, the national record holder in the sitting position at 50 feet, shooting 500 consecutive bull’s eyes with a 22LR target rifle. He never dropped a point, but simply stopped shooting saying that “If anyone could shoot 501, they can have it”. It took Ed nearly 13 hours to set the record and almost doubling the previous record. Ed was very competitive and at any rifle match he attended, he was a formidable opponent. Past President and Secretary of the ND Shooting Sports Association, Ed was also inducted into the ND Shooting Sports Hall of Fame for his dedication to the sport.

Ed is preceded in death by his wife, Arliss; his parents, Peter and Esther Jensen; brother, Willard Jensen; sister, Jeannette Glock; and granddaughter, Holly Jensen. He is survived by his children, Karen Jensen (Larry Graff) of Moorhead; Jo Marie Jensen of Fargo; Neil (Sandra) Jensen and Samuel of North Las Vegas, NV; four grandchildren; his great-grandchildren, Kana, Keenan, Kaiden, Hanah, and Maren; step great-grandchildren, Nathan and Alec; foster great-grandchild, Carson; sister Sonja (Gary) Jacobs of Apple Valley, and several nieces and nephews.

Donations can be sent to the NRA – ND Chapter, Fargo Air Museum, or Hope Lutheran Church.

Ed's video tribute can be viewed at http://www.philpetersonproductions.com/hr-memorials.htm