Judith Floraine Hensle

Judith Floraine (Ree) Hensle, of Mayville, ND died Sunday June 17, 2012 on her 88th birthday at Luther Memorial Home in Mayville, ND. Judy was born in Mayville, ND on June 17, 1924 to John and Bertha (Johnson) Ree, their only child. After graduating from Mayville High School where she was active on the tumbling team, she attended the University of North Dakota receiving her bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her first journalism position was with the Steele County Press in Finley, North Dakota. While employed there, she took a leave of absence to travel through Europe for several months. During her travels she wrote a regular column for the Steele County Press entitled "Ree-Tellings" describing her experiences throughout Europe. After returning to the U.S. she lived a few months in Greenwich Village in New York City before relocating to Denver, CO where she wrote for the local newspaper. As she had never been to the Northwest she applied for a job in Colfax, Washington were she ended up writing sports and agriculture for the Gazette for the next 40 years. She married Vince Hensle, a local wheat farmer in Colfax on June 29, 1957. While working for the Gazette, she created an annual addition dedicated to advances in the Agriculture business. During her tenure in Colfax she was honored with an "Oustanding Community Member" Award by the Chamber of Commerce and "Woman of the Year" from her Beta Sigma Phi club. She was also an active member of the American Association of University Women, Lady Jaycees, Washington Wheat Growers, and Peace Lutheran Church where she served on the parish council and taught Sunday School for many years. She enjoyed the wonderful friendships of her Bess Mechling neighborhood club while living on the farm on Cleer Creak. After being widowed, Judy returned to her hometown of Mayville, North Dakota, where she rejoined her home church of Bang Lutheran and continued her journalism by submitting artlicles of local Mayville/Portland events to the Portland News Tribune and participating in the Portland Golden Age club. In October, 2010 she was honored with a Legacy Award by the University of North Dakota. Judy was preceded in death by her husband Vince, twin infant daughters, Christina and Catherine and infant son, John Mathew. She is survived by three children Bonnie (Greg) Brumley of Glendale AZ, Robert (Valerie) Hensle of Colorado Springs, CO, Linda (John) Bowers of Bellevue, WA; twelve grandchildren, Kellen, Ryan, and Ross Brumley, Ashley (Brumley) Tuley; David, Ellen and Erik Hensle; Jack, Tim, Brian, Patrick, and Daniel Bowers and one great-grandchild, Areli JoTuley. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be given to Lutheran World Relief, or the University of North Dakota. Visitation: Will be on Thursday, June 21, 2012 from 5 ~ 7 PM with a 7 PM Public Prayer Service at the Baker Funeral Home and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral Service: 10:30 AM Friday, June 22, 2012 at Bang Lutheran Church of rural Portland, ND. Burial: Bang Cemetery, rural Portland, ND.