Mina Jensen Wease, 72, of Idaho Falls, passed away on Saturday, December 28, 2019, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Mina Kay Jensen Wease was born on May 14, 1947. She was the 1 ^st child born to Blaine R and Nina Evelyn Jones Jensen. She spent her first years in St. Anthony and Kilgore, Idaho. In 1949, she was joined by a brother, Kyle Blaine Jensen. They would grow up being best friends. Living in Kilgore the neighbors were few and far. So you had to befriend your siblings or be lonesome. She loved helping her father milk the cows and had many favorite puppies. At the age of 6, her parents moved the family to Parker, Idaho. Mina started First grade at Parker Elementary School. She attended this school through the sixth grade. Another brother, Rex Conrad Jensen, joined the family in December 1956. It was like having a real-life baby doll that needed real diapers.

On May 29, 1955, Mina was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The family moved to St. Anthony in 1960. Here another brother, Billy Joe Jensen, was born. Now Mina was old enough to be a great babysitter after all her experience with Rex. In 1961, another brother, Benny Ray Jensen, joined the family. Mina was disappointed about having another brother, she really wanted a sister, but once Benny was in her arms she knew she was going to keep him.

Mina attended 7 ^th and 8 ^th grade at St. Anthony Jr High School. In June 1961, Mina's family moved to a home in Salem, Idaho. This put her in Sugar Salem High School for her freshman year. It was a hard year for the Jensen family. Dad got hurt on the job and Mom had health problems. Many of the household chores were left to Mina and Kyle. After school, she had the responsibility of three trine brothers. Mina learned to spread herself thin to make sure everyone was well cared for.

In July 1962, the family moved to Osgood, Idaho. Way out in the "Boondocks!" We still lived in the country but had to go to the big city of Idaho Falls to school. We would get on the bus at 6 am, ride the whole dirt road route fo 40 miles. One hour later we would be five miles from home and catch the bus to Idaho Falls. Mina never fit in with the big city kids. She was a full-time country girl. She hated frills and lace. She has always loved Levi's and cattails. Being way out of town Mina had to find a hobby and took to embroidery work, as her grandmother Jones taught her all the fancy stitches. Later the sewing machine became a best friend.

Mina married Bruce E. Barzee in August 1963. They were later divorced. In 1965, she moved to California where she met an Air Force Sargent that won her heart. She married Norval Burkley Wease on May 3, 1969, at the "Little Chapel of the Flowers" in Las Vegas, Nevada. Norval was a Harley owner and they spent many weekends riding miles and miles of open roads.

On February 26, 1970, Mina became a Mother to a daughter, Sarah Evelyn Wease. From that day forward she knew why she was born. Being a mother was her life goal. The family moved back to Idaho in 1971 when Norval retired from the Air Force. They lived in Osgood. On August 1, 1972, Mina gave birth to a son, Norval Blaine Wease. How happy she was, but God had other plans for her baby boy, and called him home on August 6, 1972. Broken-hearted the family began the long road of healing.

On September 29, 1976, Mina had another son, Tony Joe Wease. What a blessing and a joy he was. A daughter and a son, what more could you be blessed with. Mina and Norval looked for a home to buy for five years. The couldn't find anything that fit. So in 1977, they purchased an acre of ground in the Jameston Township four miles wast of Shelley, Idaho. On October 1, 1977, they moved their family into a new home. On May 13, 1978, another son, Waco Robert Wease, was born. The family was now complete. Mina felt like a queen. She devoted her life to Norval and her children. She didn't work a full time paying job. She spent her days making sure the kids got where they were supposed to be. Scouts, FFA, ballgames, school, hunting, fishing, camping. These were everyday happenings in the Wease home.

Mina cared for her mother until she passed away in 2010.

She had many hobbies and loved to sew, crochet, work in the flower garden. She played the organ and always wanted to take lessons. When her brother, Ben, was getting married she learned to make wedding cakes, never for money, but always as a gift to the newlyweds. Mina loved to make quilts and many adorn the homes of family and friends. Every holiday was decorated for and Christmas was always in the making. Mina has been active in the Shelley QRU for 3 years. Coached girls baseball for 7 years and was Girl Scout leader for 10 years. She was advancement Chairman for the Jameston Ward Boys Scout for 5 years. She was also the neighborhood taxi for everyone. Mina had many young people call her #2 Mom. She always said, "I'd rather have a house full than wonder where my children were."

The second weekend of every December was "Cookie Bake". For two days the oven runs for at least 20 hours a day. Cookies were delivered all over the valley and of course, the "Fabulous Fudge" helped fill the goodie trays. This was Mina's Christmas to all her friends, family, and neighbors. She was so proud of her daughter-in-law, Shanna. She is just one of the kids and loved very much.

She is survived by her children: Sarah Wease, Tony Joe Wease, and Waco (Shanna) Wease all of Shelley, Idaho; brothers: Kyle (Vickie) Jensen, Rex (Marcy) Jensen both of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Billy Joe (Lisa) Jensen, and Benny (Teresa) Jensen both of Belgrade, Montana.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Norval Wease; infant son, Norval Blaine Wease; and her parents.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 3, 2020, at the Taylor Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 2, 2020, at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls.