Teresa Ann Yeaw Jensen Leavitt

Teresa Ann Yeaw Jensen Leavitt passed away Wednesday February 14, 2018 of natural causes at her home in Caldwell, Idaho. Teresa was born in Priest River, Idaho on October 26, 1933. She is the youngest of four children with 2 older sisters and one older brother. Her father, Kenneth Harden Yeaw, worked as head engineer at the mill and also repaired steam engines. Her mother, Christina Schwab Yeaw, met her father in Canada where her father was a straw boss (foreman) for a rancher and her mother was a cook. The day Teresa was born her father was at work and the doctor came to their home for her delivery. Her older brother Ken, hid in the closet and wouldn’t come out because Teresa was a girl and not a boy. Teresa was born on her parents anniversary. When Teresa was seven years old the family moved to Council, Idaho to build a new sawmill. Teresa graduated from Council High School in 1951. Right after graduation Teresa went to work for the Idaho First National Bank, in Council, Idaho. She worked there for 2 years until her family moved to Emmett, Idaho. From 1953-1971 Teresa worked at the Bank of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho. In 1962 she transferred to Santa Ana, California for one year to attend Santa Ana Jr. College where she studied Shorthand, and attended Banking and Government Seminars. While at the Bank of Idaho she held many jobs including, Bookkeeper, Teller, Proof Dept., Loan Teller, Switchboard, New Accounts, Escrow Officer and Secretary to the Manager in the Commercial Loan Dept. In 1971 she left the bank to become the City Treasurer for the City of Caldwell, Idaho. Teresa worked there until 1974 when she married Gerald L. Jensen and became a full time mother and grandmother inheriting 6 children and 25 grandchildren. Teresa was involved in volunteer work in the Boise Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She also volunteered for LDS Social Services working with unwed mothers and adoption, opening her home for unwed mothers. Teresa and Gerald went on two Family History Missions. The first to South Africa and the second to work on the 1881 Census Project in England and Scotland. When they came home from their mission they both came off the airplane in Boise wearing their Scottish kilts. Gerald passed away only a few short weeks after that while visiting Singapore. Teresa was married to Gerald L. Jensen for 19 years before he past away. This was a very difficult time for her. A short time later Teresa decided to go to Salt Lake City on a mission, something that her and Gerald had planned to do. She mentions how she thought she was going to go work on the 1890 Census but instead when she arrived they asked her to work once again on the 1881 Census Project of England and Scotland which she said was another blessing from Heavenly Father. In 1997 Teresa fell in love with and married Jack E. Leavitt, inheriting even more children and grandchildren! Jack and Teresa loved to travel and shop! They also went on a mission together to Australia. Teresa always said that their travels and missions would not have been possible without the support of their family and friends. Teresa loved life! She was ready to go anywhere, anytime! She loved to travel, eating out, shopping, fishing, camping, cruises, genealogy and missions. She had a love for chocolate, ice cream and sweets unparalleled to none! The grandkids loved her candy dishes filled to the brim, root beer floats, caramel popcorn balls and candy in her purse. You could always count on a treat from Grandma. Later in life she loved just going out for a drive to see the beauty of God’s creations. Even though Teresa never had children of her own, she felt loved and accepted by both the Jensen and Leavitt families including in-laws. In all, she has an inherited legacy of 9 children, 35 grandchildren and 103 great grandchildren! She is proceeded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Christine Yeaw; her brother, Kenneth (Dottie); her sister Luella Ham (Tom); her husbands, Gerald L. Jensen and Jack E. Leavitt, and her daughter Pam Mullis. She is survived by her older sister, Elsie Pickett (Joe) and numerous children and grandchildren. Funeral services for Teresa, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 at 10:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Willis building, in Middleton, ID. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at 9:00 AM. Burial will follow at the Middleton Cemetery.