FERNDALE, Wash. — The driveway outside Lorne Jensen’s Ferndale home was known to be frequently occupied by vehicles from the Ferndale Police Department, the Fire District, the local FBI office, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and the Border Patrol according to Jensen’s son and former Ferndale Mayor Gary Jensen. “Dad knew them all and they knew dad.”
On Wednesday, December, 4th, Lorne Jensen passed away at age 91.
Jensen was born in Camrose, Alberta, Canada in 1928. He immigrated to the US at age 18 and was drafted into the US Army where he served in the 45th Thunderbirds during the Korean War.
Upon returning to Ferndale after the war, he worked as a school bus driver until being hired on at the Mobil Oil Refinery and then at the Georgia Pacific Mill in Bellingham. But he found his true calling, according to Gary, when he became a Ferndale Police officer and ultimately Ferndale’s Police Chief. He also became the first full-time Fire Chief for Fire District 7 and the City of Ferndale after serving as a volunteer firefighter for many years.
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Jensen’s wife, Madeline, served right by his side, dispatching police and fire calls right from their house, according to Gary.
Jensen also served on the Ferndale parks board and the Planning Commission. He was an honorary trustee of the Whatcom County Old Settlers Association.
At Jensen’s request, no services will be held.
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