Faith Rena Jenson

Reverend Faith Rena Jenson of Stephenville, Texas passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

Born on September 27, 1935, Faith was the sixth of seven children born to Clarence Olai and May Hannah (Gladen) Jensen at Rochert, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Egelund Lutheran Church. She attended District 77 Grade School and graduated from high school in Detroit Lakes, MN. Following high school, she graduated with a Bachelor of Art Degree in Public School Music and Art education from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. Growing up, she was known as Renee Jenson.

Faith was a talented musician. She could pick up any instrument and play it by ear. Piano, organ, ukulele, flute, drums, you name it! At just three years of age, she first shared her innate musical talent with the congregation of Egelund Lutheran Church when she accompanied herself on the piano while singing ‘Jesus Loves Me’. She would continue to serve as church Organist throughout her youth.

In 1959, she married Daniel Alva Nelson in Detroit Lakes, MN. Together, they had six children. Living in several states during their marriage, they eventually settled in Fergus Falls, MN where she worked as a schoolteacher as well as a drug and alcohol counselor. As a life-long Lutheran, she felt called to Ministry which led her to obtain a Master of Divinity in 1987 from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth TX.

In 1996, she was ordained by the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). She spent most of her Calling as an Interim Pastor, taking missions with congregations who were without pastoral care, ministering to them, and assisting with their search for a permanent pastor.

It was through these callings, which sent her to communities like Hot Springs Village, AR, Dubois, IN, Cushing, OK, Waco, Tx, Winters, TX, San Angelo, TX and Miles, TX, and Baton Rouge, LA, that Faith made numerous lifelong friendships. Her final call would be Hospital Chaplaincy, working for Texas Health Resources in their Fort Worth and HEB hospitals. She retired in 2017.

Wherever called, she shared her beliefs and faith with those whose path she crossed. During her retirement, she enjoyed planning and preparing elaborate meals for family and friends. She was an excellent cook! She loved to host food and fellowship functions, taking advantage of the opportunity to add beautiful décor reflective of the current Season, including music, of course. She had an eye for antiques and enjoyed hunting for them and having them restored to their original glory.

Faith is proceeded in death by her father and mother, Clarence and May Jensen; three brothers, Verne Jensen, Austin Jensen and Wallace Jensen; and sisters, Penny Barnick, Maxine Jenson and Joyce Quinn, and her eldest son, Daniel Adam Nelson.

Survivors: daughters Alix Nelson of Fort Worth, Erin Nelson of Grandview, Sonja Nelson of Kingsland, Texas and Kirsten Lukach (Russ) of Buffalo, Minn.; son, Eric Nelson of St. Louis Park, Minn.; granddaughter, Keyla Vassar (Kevin) of Kingsland as well as grandsons, Derek Nelson and Jared Nelson of Mount Angel, Oregon, James Buzbee (Kayla) of Stephenville, Tyler Buzbee (Bailey) of Rio Vista, Texas. Her great niece Jennifer Barnick Goode (Butch) of Burleson, Texas. Several nephews and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Stephenville, TX on October 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Graveside internment will be scheduled at a later date at Egeland Lutheran Cemetery in Holmesville Township, MN.