Jeffery Alan Jenson

Jeffery Alan Jenson, 52, of Lake Park, MN, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025, at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND, following an unrelenting battle with cancer that lasted nearly two and a half years.

Jeff was born on May 17, 1973, to LeRoy and Linda (Russell) Jenson in San Diego, CA. As a child, Jeff kept his parents on their toes with shenanigans such as using his dad’s welding equipment (without permission) to attempt to weld coins to the garage floor, harassing bugs with pool acid and sneaking over to the convenience store to buy candy that he was not allowed to have. Jeff’s favorite childhood memories were of family trips to Minnesota to spend time at his grandparents’ cabin on Leaf Lake.

Jeff graduated from Platt College San Diego with a degree in traditional graphic design, with an emphasis on computer graphics. Not long after, he moved to Minnesota to be closer to extended family and his beloved lake. He was employed by University Press in Fargo, ND, for several years, then by Flint Communications in Fargo for over 25 years. While at Flint, Jeff had a variety of roles working in graphic design, photography, videography and editing. He had a special interest in flying drones to capture images and video.

On May 30, 2006, Jeff married Carrie Ista in Kihei, HI, on the island of Maui. Jeff and Carrie made their home in Moorhead, MN, and recently fulfilled Jeff’s dream of residing at the lake year-round by moving to the Jenson family home on Leaf Lake.

Jeff’s interests included photography, traveling, riding motorcycles and electric scooters, cooking, fishing and growing his extensive collection of high-end flashlights. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his wife, Carrie, where there was always love, laughter and plenty of clowning around.

He adored his nieces and nephew and cherished the time he spent with them. Uncle Jeff was the best at towing the older kids on a tube behind the jet ski or setting up a lakeside campfire in the evening when they would come to visit. He would try to hold his own when having intense conversations about Disney movies with the younger ones.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Carrie Jenson of Lake Park, MN; his mother, Linda Jenson; sister, Jessica Jenson; nephew, Jaden Lawlor; and niece, Jayli Lawlor, all of the San Diego, CA area; brother, Jeremy (Sarah) Jenson; and nieces, Audrey Jenson and Natalie Jenson of Sacramento, CA; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Richard and Elaine Ista of Abercrombie, ND; brother-in-law, Fred (Andi Schalow) Ista of Fargo, ND; many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and his Flint family.

He was preceded in death by his father, LeRoy Jenson; grandparents, Roy and Frances Jenson, and Alfred and Jane Russell.

An open house celebration of Jeff’s life will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Detroit Lakes, MN in the Fireside Lounge.