Jessie Bell Tenbusch, 88, of Sweet Home, died Feb. 3, 2023.
She was born March 25, 1934, in Skedee, Okla., to William Roy and Virginia Rose (Welks) Sharp.
She moved to Crawfordsville from Skedee in 1946 with her parents and three siblings, Don, Jewell and Gerald. She married Charley Joe Tenbusch and lived in Eddyville from 1953 to 1959.
In June of 1959 Jessie and three children joined Charley at what became her permanent home in Sweet Home.
During the first couple of summers she worked in Becker bean field as a ticket puncher. She worked for awhile for Flanagin, candling eggs, then worked full-time at Walker’s Nursery.
Around 1961 she worked as a part-time janitor at Crawfordsville Grade School, eventually moving to full time until she retired in 1991. She also operated a ceramics business out of her home from 1970 until 1996.
Mrs. Tenbusch enjoyed canning, ceramics, knitting and reading. She volunteered at the East Linn Museum. She helped with Vacation Bible School, the Christmas Shoe Box Program and War Mothers support group. She loved camping, traveling and her yearly Tenbusch Family Fourth of July Family Reunion.
Mrs. Tenbusch is survived by her children, daughter Marie and son-in-law Ramino Lopez, and son Dan and daughter-in-law Holly Tenbusch; sister Jewell and brother-in-law Leroy Robertson, and brother Gerald Sharp; seven grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charley; son Bill; and brother Don Sharp.
Viewing will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at Crawfordsville Calvary Chapel.
Final burial will be at Gilliland Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made in Mrs. Tenbusch’s name to Oregon Right to Life.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.