Jensen, Moroni L. (Moroni Lundby), 1912-1980

Moroni L. Jensen (1912-1980) was an educator and politician in Utah.

Moroni Lundby Jensen was born to Kristiane Graversen and Hans Simon Jensen on January 10, 1912 in Ogden, Utah. He grew up working on a farm and drove a school bus while he was a senior in high school. He graduated from North Sevier High school in 1929 and then attended Brigham Young University (BYU) from 1929 to 1930. He received a normal diploma from Snow College in 1931, and a Bachelor of Science from BYU in 1946. In 1945 he spent eighteen months serving as field director of the American Red Cross in the Philippines, Korea, and Japan.

After receiving his bachelor's degree Jensen began both his educational and political careers in Salina, Utah, as a principal while serving as a city councilman and later on as mayor. In 1950 he left for New York to study at the Teachers College at Columbia University where he would receive his Master's in Art. He was the principal of Cyprus High School during the late 1960s until the early 1970s. He was a member of state and national education associations starting in 1932 and was a life member of the National Education Association starting in 1944 and the Utah Education Association starting in 1963. He was vice president of both Southern Utah Teachers Association and the Utah Education Association.

He was elected as a Utah Representative in 1964 after he served as a city councilman and mayor of Salina, Utah. He served two terms and was then elected to the Utah Senate in 1968. In 1977 he became the president of the Utah Senate. He was a member of many committees including State Democratic Central Committee, the Salt Lake County Democratic Committee, and the Executive Committee of the Western Conference of the Council of State Governments and of the Education Commission of the States. He was also a member of the State Secondary Art Committee and General Central Research Committee.

He married Vivian Nelson on March 8, 1934. They had two children, M. Leon and Jerold L. He was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings, including as the president of the seventies quorum in the North Sevier Stake and in the presidency of the Wilford Stake mission. After a life of community service, Jensen died November 8, 1980 of a heart attack.

Vivian N. Jensen (1911-2010) was a teacher and politician in Utah. She was the wife of Moroni L. Jensen.

Vivian Nelson was born April 16, 1911, in Redmond, Utah, to Franklin T. and Annetta Willardsen Nelson. She graduated from North Sevier High School in 1930. She received her teaching degree from Brigham Young University. She married Moroni L. Jensen on March 8, 1934. They had two children. She had a long career in education.

When Moroni died in 1980, she took his place serving in the Utah State Legislature. After this, she continued to campaign, and served for an additional term in 1982. She died February 21, 2010.

From the guide to the Moroni L. and Vivian N. Jensen papers, bulk 1976-1980, circa 1950-1991, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)