Barbara “Barb” Ann (Jensen) Nelson passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 21, 2025. She was born June 23, 1937, in Avon, Connecticut, to Peter and Hansine (Nielsen) Jensen.
She lived in Avon, Connecticut, until meeting Donald Duane “Smoke” Nelson while he was stationed in the US Army there and they married on September 24, 1960, then moved to Salina, Kansas, where they resided until Don’s death. Barb then moved in with her daughter, Lisa, and son-in-law, Bill, shortly after in Lone Jack, Missouri. She fell and broke her hip in April 2025, in the midst of building a family home in Lindsborg, Kansas. She consequently was residing at Pinnacle Park Healthcare and Rehabilitation.
Barb was a homemaker and also enjoyed part time work after her children were raised. She was also active at Immanuel Lutheran Church and enjoyed volunteering in their kitchen. She was a dedicated blood donor and received many pins for her contributions. Barb had many talents and was an excellent cook and baker, making candy, cookies, and homemade pies that she enjoyed sharing with family, friends, and neighbors. Her homemade pies were legendary as she would make at least one a week. At Christmas time, she would make several dozen treats to share with others and enjoy herself as she had a profound sweet tooth she got honestly from her proud Danish heritage! Barb was also an awesome bowler, belonging to several leagues in Salina. When she was no longer able to bowl or bake as much, her avid love of playing cards became a priority. Barb was the sweetest lady in the world until she was in a game of cards and then she played to win! Her other interests included “red birds”, anything purple, covered bridges, horses, and her beloved grand dog Bella. Barb was a reading enthusiast including cookbooks, romance novels and mysteries. She also enjoyed watching John Wayne movies, listening to Elvis Presley, whom she professed to be in love with, and anything with Tom Selleck in it. In her later years, Barb also enjoyed traveling including Branson, cruises, and visiting family “back East”, as she described, and always wanted to visit Denmark.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Don, parents and 5 brothers and sisters-in-law, Alfred and Joey Jensen, Arnold and Jean Jensen, Earl and Nellie Jensen, Bob and Eleanor Jensen, and Clarence Jensen. Survivors include son Rex and wife Kim Nelson of Ham Lake, Minnesota, daughter Lisa and husband Bill Verhoeff of Lindsborg, Kansas, and grandson Drew Nelson of Lexington, Minnesota, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 10: 00 a.m. at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th, Salina, on Friday, December 26, 2025 with a small reception following the service with cookies in fond remembrance of Barb.
Memorials can be made to Salina Red Cross Blood and Platelet Donation Center at 120 W. Prescott, Salina, KS, 67401 or Salina Animal Services at 329 N. Second Street, Salina, KS 67401.