Billy Dean Jensen

   Billy Dean Jensen, 68, of Sioux City, IA passed away on Friday, December 31, 2021.

   A Celebration of Life will on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Meyer Brother Colonial Chapel (3220 Stone Park Blvd) with Walter Haltli officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery. 

   Billy was born on May 19, 1953 in Sioux City, IA. He was born a twin to Betty Jean. She passed away 3 days after her birth. They were born to Bill and Doris (Christy) Jensen. 

   Billy was born with cerebral palsy. He went to live at Glenwood State Hospital when he was a toddler. He returned to Sioux City when Courage Homes opened and was a resident there until his passing. He loved his home and family there. 

   He is survived by brother, Ed (Marie) Jensen of Fair Oaks, CA; sisters: Barb Becher of Sioux City, Kathi (Jim) Mincer of Sioux City, IA and Sandy (Dan) Slate of Seaford, DE; aunt and uncle, Bernice (Bob) Donovan of Hawaiian Gardens, CA; several nieces and nephews and two great nephews.

   He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Jensen on November 1, 1987; his mother, Doris (Christy) Jensen on June 28, 2020; and twin sister, Betty Jean on May 21, 1953. 

   We would like to say a special thanks to everyone at Courage Home for all the love, guidance and gentle care provided to Billy. Also, a special thank you to the ICU Nursing Staff at MercyOne for the excellent care Billy received there.

Tribute to Billy Dean

Billy Dean and Betty Jean bonded in the womb, only as twins can. They were born blessed by the hand of God with Cerebral Palsy. Imperfect in the world’s eyes, but perfect in His and ours. Betty Jean brought mom and dad joy for three glorious days before being guided home by Jesus.

Billy Dean thrived at home for a few short months, overcoming struggles with seizures and other health challenges. Doctors had prepared mom and dad to lose him by the time he reached his late teens. Mom had been warned that if she kept him at home, as he grew heavier it would become impossible for her to lift him from a wheelchair so reluctantly sent him to live in a state-run home in Glenwood, Iowa. He beat the odds with new medicines and a strong will, and he continued to thrive. After many years there, he became eligible for care at Courage Homes in Morningside and continued to beat the odds and thrive. His caregivers there became his second family, to all of whom we are eternally grateful.

For anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing Billy Dean, you know how he would light up a room with his smile and twinkling green eyes. When he laughed, he lowered his chin against his chest with excitement. When ashamed, he would cover his face with his forearm. He is so loving and gave the biggest bear hugs and squeals of happiness that you could hear across the room. He loved to go for rides and let you know when it was time to go bye-bye.

The year 2020 brought us all Covid-19 and continued through 2021. Billy Dean became more fragile and caught pneumonia multiple times. He also caught Covid. We were afraid we would lose him more than once during that time. His body went through so much and he became very frail and tired. He lost the ability to swallow, which required his food to be blended for him to eat. He lost so much weight in the process. Then foreign materials backed up into his esophagus and into his lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia. His last bout was too much for him to fight off.

On December 16, 2021, Billy was admitted to the hospital ICU and placed on a ventilator December 17^th. While in the hospital, Kathi spent a lot of time with him, singing his favorite Christmas carols and listening to music with him. Barb and I were able to talk to him on the telephone and let him know how much we love and miss him. When it was determined that his condition was not improving with the assistance of the ventilator, it was decided to remove the vent and allow our sweet brother to go home to God. On December 29^th, the vent was removed, and Billy Dean was able to rest comfortably for the first time in two weeks. He seemed at peace, sleeping a lot. Kathi stayed at the hospital with him around the clock. When he was awake, we could talk to him on the phone, and he blew us kisses when we kissed him.

When we told him we loved him, he blinked his eyes to say he loved us, too. Our Billy Dean was back, even if just for the moment.

It gave me a lot of time to reflect on Billy Dean’s life, and how truly blessed he was. He was a chosen one by God. He was special. He was not handicapped. We are. He was perfect. We are imperfect. He was innocent and pure. We are oftentimes trapped by our wants and desires, our competitiveness, our jealousies, our drive for success. We forget to just live and be happy. He was happy all the time. He saw the good in everything and everyone. He lived his life as a child, without adult stresses or worries or responsibilities. He was honest and free. For that, I thank God for blessing him and for blessing us with him.

On December 30^th, Billy was moved from the ICU to a private room waiting for staff availability to take him to Courage Homes with Hospice Care on January 3^rd. However, God was ready for him to come home and came for him on December 31, 2021. This was a significant date, as it was mom and dad’s 73^rd wedding anniversary and New Year’s Eve. Billy Dean is at peace, he is with his twin sister, mom, dad, and all the family members who have passed before him. He can run, walk, and talk to his heart’s content. He never had to confess his sins to be accepted into heaven, as he was pure and innocent on earth as he is now in heaven. He has always been perfect. I wish I could say the same for me.

Another blessing is he is an organ donor and has helped two people to see again. I know he is happy to bring such joy to other human beings. We have been told that other organs have saved additional lives as well. Billy Dean, you are a Saint in our hearts and minds!!!

We love you, Billy Dean, and miss you so very much! You live large in our hearts! Your loving siblings,

Ed, Barb, Kathi, and Sandy