Helen "Bonnie" Jensen

Helen "Bonnie" Jensen was born in Pocatello, Idaho to Ralph Veach and Verna Baxter Veach, both of whom were born and raised in Idaho. She was the eldest of four children with a younger brother and two younger sisters. She spent her early years in Pocatello before the family moved to the Burbank California area in 1956. She graduated from John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in 1959.

Shortly there after she met and married Lewis Richard Rossie in 1960. They welcomed two daughters, Julie Rossie and Jeri (Rossie ) Vodhanel before moving to Redmond, Washington in 1968. Soon came a son Kenneth Rossie in 1968. The family enjoyed the small acreage that allowed for a horse, cow, ducks and a dog. Bonnie enjoyed canning and making jams.

Her husband's roofing business took the family to Hawaii. They settled on the Big Island. She worked for a short time at Ken's House of Pancakes but eventually took a full time job as a secretary for a lumber company. She also worked parttime as a cocktail waitress. When the union dissolved, the children spent the summers in Maui with their father.

A chance encounter with Lamar Jensen led to moving back to California. They married in 1975, settling in Garden Grove with the addition of Lamar's children Denise (Jensen) Henson and David Jensen. At this time Bonnie worked as a secretary for Louisiana Lumber Company.

In 1986 with most of her children grown, her and her husband moved to Canyon Lake, California. She began work at the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association in 1987 until her retirement in 2012 with her most recent role of HR Manager.

She has seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was extensively involved in raising her granddaughters Jessica De Gard and Ashley DeGard (Jeri Vodhanel). Denise Henson provided three grandchildren, Brandon Henson, Christian Nicks and Nicholas Nicks. Bonnie's son Kenneth Rossie provided a granddaughter LaRen Rossie and son Angelo Rossie who is the youngest grandchild.

Bonnie enjoyed golfing in Canyon Lake with her husband and playing Bunco at the Lodge. She also enjoyed computer solitaire, mahjong and word search puzzles. She has an extensive collection of decorative bells (porcelain, etc.) and more recently has found a love for Annalee dolls. She loves to decorate during the holidays and seasons with her Annalee dolls of which her friends and family looked forward to her displays. Holidays in particular Christmas was her favorite to decorate the house. Her husband faithfully put up the lights on the house at her request.

Bonnie was fun loving and lighthearted. She liked jokes, funny sayings and humor. She had the gift of gab and would have a conversation with just about anyone. But she also could be very serious. She spoke up and spoke her mind when the occasion necessitated. She was fiercely independent and remained so to her final day.

She has a very caring heart and would often help others, including a soft heart for cats and small dogs. She quickly became a Resident Ambassador at Menifee Independent Living where she welcomed new residents and helped them get acquainted with the facility and the many activities to enjoy. She could rarely get from point A to point B without a social conversation and check in with her fellow residents.

Her spirit, caring attitude and friendship will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.