Jay G. Jensen Jr.

Jay Golden and Mary Donna Jensen Scholarship

Jay Golden Jensen was born in Pocatello, Idaho, on February 8, 1924, the oldest child of J. Golden and Myrtle Lillie Jensen. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Donna Jones, in the Idaho Falls Temple on November 17, 1948. Jay and Mary Donna were married for 61 years when Mary Donna passed away in 2010 at the home of her daughter where she and her husband resided for the past ten years . Jay Golden passed away January 18, 2015.

Jay Golden Jensen was raised in Pocatello and lived here for 76 years. He graduated in 1942 from Pocatello High School where he excelled in athletics, scholastics, and leadership. Jay was an exceptional athlete and an outstanding basketball player. He was named to the All State team three years straight and was captain of the All State team his senior year. Jay served as class president, student body vice-president, and student body president. He attended Boys State where he was elected Governor, and he won the Idaho State Oratorical Tournament.
Donna spent her early childhood in Idaho and Ogden, Utah. In 1939, she moved with her family to Pocatello, Idaho, where she attended Pocatello High School. She was active in school plays, in debate, and in school governing activities and graduated with highest honors.
Jay enrolled at Idaho Southern Branch (now Idaho State University) in 1942 and enlisted in the Navy’s V-12 Officer Training program. He continued to excel in basketball for two years and was the University Student Body President before he transferred to Notre Dame to complete his Naval Officer training. Jay was commissioned as a Naval Officer in October 1944, and served in the Pacific Theater until the end of the war.
Donna attended the University of Idaho, Southern Branch, located in Pocatello, Idaho. She worked for Dr. Ray J. Davis, organizing and typing his book The Flora of Idaho. In 1944, she entered Brigham Young University. She played leading roles in plays and was active in debate and oratory winning national honors, and graduating again with highest honors.
In 1946, Jay enrolled at Brigham Young University where he starred on the basketball team for two more years and was an All-American candidate. He graduated from BYU in 1948 with a BS in Education. He went on to earn his Masters Degree in Education at Idaho State College in 1958. Jay was given the opportunity to return to Poky High where he taught History and coached basketball for 5 years.
Returning to Pocatello from BYU she taught at Pocatello High School for one year. In the fall of 1947, she joined the faculty of the new Idaho State College in the Department of English. She was active in the Pocatello community during summers. She directed recreational activities and served on the committee to introduce kindergarten to the public schools, and the mayor’s committee to raise funds for a public swimming pool in Ross Park.
At Idaho State College, and later University, she taught various levels of English composition, and classes of English, American, Western, and World literature. She supervised students teaching English in the public schools. She received her master’s degree from Idaho State University and served as a National Endowment for the Humanities scholar at Ohio State University. She retired as associate professor emerita after forty-one years of service.
In 1956, Jay was hired as the Director of Housing at Idaho State College. He later became Dean of Men. In 1970, he was named Dean of Student Affairs where he remained until his retirement in 1989. Throughout his long and distinguished career at ISU, Jay was known and honored for his ability to lovingly guide and counsel young people. He continued to have a profound impact on those he knew, including his grandchildren, young church members, and even his CNAs in the twilight of his life.
Jay and Mary Donna were devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in numerous leadership positions in his ward and the East Pocatello Stake. He was active in the community, serving as Chairman of the United Campaign, UNICEF, and the Bannock Regional Medical Center Board of Directors for many years. While on the Bannock board, he was instrumental in obtaining the first Life Flight services in Southeast Idaho.
Jay was an active sportsman throughout his life. He participated in handball, racquetball, and owned horses. He was a member of the Bannock County Sherriff’s Mounted Posse for many years. He won numerous awards with his horsemanship while riding his champion Arabian, Nefarr, during Posse competitions across the state.

Mary Donna belonged to several organizations, ISU Gamma Phi Beta, Faculty Women Club, the American Association of University Women, and the Literary Art Guild of Pocatello.
She loved flowers and especially appreciated their beauty and decorated many showers, receptions, weddings, and special occasions, always with an exquisite flair. She wrote poetry her entire life and thrilled her family and friends with personal poems to celebrate special occasions.
She was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served in various organizations and taught Sunday School for 25 years.
Due to health issues, Jay and Mary Donna moved from their beloved Pocatello to Tracy, CA, in 2000 to live with their daughter Leesa, her husband Tom and their family. For the remainder of their lives, Jay and Mary Donna were cared for by Leesa and her family. Jay moved to Highland, UT, with Leesa and Tom in 2012.