Peter Andrew Tensen

Published January 27, 2023 at 10:26 AM

Peter Andrew “Andy” Tensen, age 93, of Brooten, went home to his eternal rest in Heaven on January 25, 2023. Funeral services were held January 28th at the Brooten Community Church in Brooten with burial in the church cemetery. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Brooten.

He was born April 23, 1929 to Peter and Anna (VanderBeek) Tensen at home on the family farm near Hospers, Iowa. He attended school and moved to Belgrade before being drafted into the United States Army.

Before his time in the service, Andy met Sylvia Moorlag at a Youth Rally at Pease Christian Reformed Church and they corresponded while he was in the Army. After his time in the service, he worked at the Belgrade Feed Mill and was then married to Sylvia on June 8, 1954. This union was blessed with three sons and five daughters - the first daughter died in infancy. In 1955, Andy and Sylvia started dairy and crop farming west of Brooten. In 1959, they bought a different farm six miles west of Brooten where they continued farming until November 1995 when they retired and moved into Brooten. All who knew him described him as hardworking, gentle, kind and a great servant of his Lord and Savior. Andy was a man of few words and great wisdom..

Andrew is survived by his children, Perry Tensen of Glenwood, Sharilyn (Dan) Sands of Willmar, Marilyn (Larry) Stulen of Willmar, Greg (Mary) Tensen of Brooten, Randy (Linda) Tensen of Dawson, Arliss (Dennis) Wallenta of Buffalo, and Carol Tensen of Willmar; 15 grandchildren, Abby, Billy and Arlee Tensen, Shalese and Isaac Sands, Leah (Joshua) de Lange; Kyle Stulen; Ben, Jacob and Cassandra Tensen, Ashley (Chris) Schacherer and Jonathan (Cara) Tensen, Hannah, Alyssa and Karina Wallenta; as well as his brother, Arie (Kathy) Tensen; sister, Kathleen (Earle) Schoep, sister-in-law, Doris Tensen; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia; an infant daughter; his parents, Peter and Anna; siblings, Ira, Thelma, Gerard, Trina Smit, Johanna Sankey; and grandson, Troy Stulen.