Marion McBride Jensen

Marion McBride Jensen, matriarch of the McBride-Jensen family and long-time Redlands resident, died Sunday, January 12. She was 97. 

Born on March 22, 1927 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Marion McBride was the middle child and the only daughter of five children born to Ray McBride and Eunice O’Brian McBride. 

Marion married Arthur M Jensen in 1945, and they spent the next 66 years happily living the American dream until his death in 2011. Together they raised three children, traveled the world, camped in Yosemite and other national parks, and provided countless hours of community service. 

Marion was adventurous. She fondly remembered jumping out of her seat to be the first to ride an elephant at the circus when she was seven years old and tackling the biggest hills when sledding with her brothers. As newlyweds Marion and Art chaperoned college students on a trip to DC, and they enjoyed three week-long river rafting trips down the Colorado River with the geologist classes at San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC). 

Marion loved to travel, eat ice cream, and spend time with family and friends. She also loved to learn. She graduated from South High School in Grand Rapids, MI. She started college at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo in 1944, when it was rare to see women in university. Although she took a break from her studies to marry in 1945, she never gave up on that dream, and she resumed her college career when she moved to Redlands earning an AA at SBVC and her BA in Liberal studies as well as her CA Teaching Credential. She enjoyed working as a substitute teacher, but her true calling was supporting her husband, children, and community. 

Marion was a member of the Contemporary Club of Redlands for 47 years, serving two terms as president 1986-1988 and 2003-2008 as well as District President of the Inland Empire Women’s Clubs 1990-1992. During her term she focused on environmental awareness, spearheaded the Smokey the Bear campaign, and championed children’s literacy through several initiatives. 

She was known for her beautiful singing voice, unwavering positivity, and her skill as a cook and hostess. In her senior years, she cared for her eldest daughter, husband, and son through major medical conditions. In 2017 she and her youngest daughter traveled the country for her 90th Birthday Tour—visiting family in Illinois, Michigan, Washington DC, New York and Niagara Falls. She traveled to the east coast regularly between 2018 and 2023. 

Marion leaves behind her daughter, Patricia Jensen Frost; six grandchildren, Dana Jensen Richie, Kimberly Jensen Tiede, Breanna Jensen Collier, Matthew Collier, Andrew Frost, and Katie Frost; eight great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews and their families. Her daughter, Mary Ann Jensen; husband, Arthur M Jensen; and son, Arthur Ray Jensen, preceded her in death. 

 A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 1 at 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Redlands, 51 West Olive Avenue, Redlands. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Redlands, the Contemporary Club of Redlands Scholarship Fund, or a National Park of your choice. Marion will be laid to rest along with her husband at Riverside National Cemetery under their motto: Ever thine, every mine, ever for each other.