Marjorie (Marj) Hensen, 100

Our beloved Marj Hensen passed away peacefully on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at the age of 100, surrounded by an army of family in the home where she spent her final years. She died as she lived, reminding each of us how much she loved us. Then, having said her goodbyes, she closed her eyes to rest and went straight into the arms of Jesus.

It was a beautiful conclusion to a remarkable life, and exactly how she wanted it.

One hundred years is a long time, and Marj filled those years with an extraordinary amount of living. She was a daughter, a wife, a mother, a nurse, an artist, a friend, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and a great-great-grandmother. To each of us, she was something a little different. To all of us, she was someone very special.

Born Marj Fitzpatrick in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1926, Marj grew up in Williston, North Dakota. She became a registered nurse in 1947, beginning a lifetime of caring for others. While working at the hospital, she met George Hensen, whom she married at the age of 21. Together, they raised seven children, eventually making their home in Montana, where the family moved in 1962.

Nursing was Marj's profession, but art was one of her great passions. An accomplished watercolor artist, she had a wonderful eye for the beauty and humor in the world around her. She found subjects worth painting and stories worth telling in places others might easily overlook. One of those stories became Ferdinand the Squirrel: A True-Life Tale, a children's book inspired by the adventures of a mischievous squirrel at her bird feeder. It was a delightful expression of her creativity, her powers of observation, and her gentle sense of humor.

She also enjoyed life's simpler pleasures: a good cup of black coffee, a little something sweet, reminiscing and sharing stories, the beauty of a watercolor painting, and the company of family and friends. She maintained her individuality, her interests, and her affection for those around her through a century of enormous change.

Above all, Marj was a woman of faith. Her relationship with Jesus was not simply something she spoke about, but a source of comfort, hope, and strength throughout her life. As much as we will miss her, we rejoice in knowing that her journey here has ended in the presence of the Savior she loved.

In her final hours, her home was filled with family. There were conversations, expressions of love, and the privilege of being together. Marj remained lucid and loving until she fell asleep. We could not have asked for a more peaceful farewell, or one more fitting for a woman whose life had been so thoroughly devoted to those she loved.

We will miss her smile, her stories, her artwork, her humor, and the simple pleasure of being in her company. But most of all, we will miss Marj herself.

One hundred years. So many lives touched. So much love given and returned. 

And what a wonderful life it was.

We believe Marj would say to each of you who knew and loved her, "Thank you for everything."

A celebration of Marj's life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. at Canvas Church or online at canvas.church. All are warmly welcomed to join us as we remember her, celebrate her remarkable century of life, and give thanks for the blessing she has been to our family and so many others.

Marj loved her family deeply, and that family grew to notable proportions. She leaves behind generations of people whose lives are connected, in one way or another, to the love and commitment of one extraordinary woman:

- Gregory Hensen and spouse Cheri

- Quentin Hensen and spouse Susan

- Mary Powell (deceased) and spouse Dan

- Renee Zennu and spouse Linda

- Blaine Hensen (deceased).

- GJ Hensen and spouse Sandy

- Michelle Van Allen and spouse Kenny

...together with 15 grand-children, 24 great-grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.

    Marjorie (Marj) Hensen