Krishele Willie Jensen, 53, returned to her Father in Heaven on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 in Idaho Falls, Idaho due to the effects of ovarian cancer.

Krishele Willie was born on August 3, 1970 in Logan, Utah, the oldest of five children to Timothy and Julie Willie. During her early years, she lived in Logan, Utah; Malad, Idaho; Gresham, Oregon; and Idaho Falls, Idaho; eventually, the family settled on the farm in Pleasantview. She was born while her parents were in college and was always read to from whichever textbook they were studying that night. Krishele had a lifelong love of teaching. As a child, she would line her dolls and stuffed animals up and pretend to teach them. When her siblings came along, she added them to her ‘classroom’, although some were more willing to take in the lesson
than others.

Krishele attended Malad High School and was involved in the drill team, student government, journalism, National Honor Society, Jr. Miss, Close Up Club, and played the flute in the band. She graduated Valedictorian of the class of 1988 and was voted Most Likely to Succeed. She attended Utah State University, receiving her bachelors degree in Journalism with a minor in English.

She married her eternal companion and high school sweetheart David Royal Jensen on June 29, 1990 in the Logan Utah Temple. They spent their first married years in Logan finishing school and welcomed their first daughter, Janalie. They moved to Malad to raise their family close to the family farm and had Joshua and Natalie. They eventually settled a mile from where she grew up in Pleasantview and had two more children: Kristle and Timothy.

Krishele worked as a photographer/reporter for the Idaho Enterprise for many years. She could be seen at local and high school events with her camera, always capturing life’s moments. She also worked as a substitute teacher for the schools in Malad while her children were young, and continued for over 20 years. In 2015 she began teaching special education at Malad Middle School, and switched to teaching English in the 7th grade in 2019. She loved her students and her coworkers.

Krishele spent much of her time following her children and supporting them in their endeavors. Many weekends were spent at fields, courts, and competitions all over the state and sometimes across the nation. She strongly believed in showing up to whatever her children chose to do, and had a camera in her hands to document it all.

Krishele was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and had a testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ. She served in many callings over the years with the children and the youth. She spent many years supporting her husband David in his many callings.

 Krishele’s true passion was realized in 2020 when she became a grandma. Her weekends were reserved for full days with her granddaughter Finlee, and then later for her grandsons Parker and Oliver. Her living room was often full as her children came home to visit.

Krishele is survived by her husband of 34 years David Royal Jensen; her five children: Janalie (Auston) Youngblood of Logan, Utah; Joshua David (Ashlee) Jensen of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Natalie Emma (Eric) Reiss, Kristle Rose Jensen, and Timothy Royal Jensen, all of Malad; and her three grandchildren: Finlee Fae Jensen, Parker David Youngblood, and Oliver Royal Reiss. She is also survived by her mother Julie Parry Willie of Malad; her grandmother Emo Lou Waldron Parry of Malad; her four siblings: Timothy Kirk (Kami) Willie of Malad; Melissa (Brandon) Braegger of Brigham City, Utah; Thomas Ray (Amber) Willie of Malad; and Shannon (Benjamin) Barker of Herriman, Utah; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Krishele is preceded in death by her father Timothy Ray Willie; in-laws Royal Duane and Janet Fay Jensen; and her grandparents Carl Ray and Carol Dawn Willie and Thomas
J Parry.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 12:00 noon at the Malad Stake Center, 1250 N 1100 W, Malad ID. A viewing was held at the Malad Stake Center on Monday, July 22, 2024 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and before the funeral from 10:30
to 11:30 a.m.