Jessie Fay Henspeter, 103 of Tampa, Florida, passed away peacefully from complications of pneumonia in Mesa Arizona on December 25, 2021, with her daughter by her side. There will be no formal services in Primghar at this time. Burial will be at a later date at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Primghar.
Jessie was born at home on July 3, 1918, to Alice Marie Brown Staples and Frank Staples in Delamere, North Dakota. She grew up on a farm close to Wyndmere, North Dakota.
She attended a country school and graduated from 8th grade and began to work as a housekeeper and caregiver to families around Wyndmere and in Iowa.
Around 1938, she met the love of her life on a blind date; it was love at first site. Jessie and Orlin were married in Archer, Iowa on September 1, 1940. They had a beautiful loving relationship and were married for 62+ years. They had one daughter, Marilyn.
Jessie was a full-time mother and busy housewife as well as business partner with her husband. She made all the appointments, transported him to and from the farms and collected the money for their business of 35+years as a corns sheller, livestock hauler and combiner.
She was a70+ year member of the United Methodist Church in Archer, Iowa. She was her daughter’s first Sunday School teacher. Additionally, she belonged to the Women’s’ Church Circle, Birthday Club, 3M Club and was a Rebecca Lodge member for over 50 years. She loved to knit and crochet and made afghans, sweaters, and dresses. She loved to cook and bake. She nurtured two large gardens.
Besides being a loving wife and mother, she loved to travel. She and her husband traveled with family overseas several times, visiting Greece, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and Hawaii together.
Her favorite pastime was fishing. In her younger years, it was Bullheads, middle years, Walleye and her senior years Salmon and Halibut. In her 6th trip to Alaska, she caught a 142-pound halibut and was the derby winner for the week. It won her a seaplane ride over Columbia Glacier, an announcement in the local paper and radio station as well as money.
In 1980, she and Orlin bought a mobile home in Sunny Acres (now called Agave Village). It was their paradise. They made so many wonderful friends and had so much fun. They played shuffleboard together and she played cards and taught water aerobics for many years. She loved to attend events in the Phoenix area such as the Arabian Show, luaus, church concerts, Hale Theater, museums and rides in the beautiful mountains. It was life well lived for over 40 years.
Later, she would travel with her daughter each year to celebrate her birthday. They did car trips and coach trips within the USA and cruises to the Caribbean Islands, Alaska and Nova Scotia. Life was an adventure.
In 2015, she moved to Tampa, Florida to live with her daughter. In addition to yearly trips, they enjoyed Florida and especially Busch Gardens with the beautiful flowers, shows, animals and train ride every Sunday afternoon, They attended many Broadway shows, festivals, and the beach.
In the summers, they would spend 1-4 months in The Villages known as Disney World for Seniors. She loved Zumba, live music at the town squares, theater, cards, swimming, and time with friends.
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Jessie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Orlin, two full term infant boys who died in labor, Norman Lee and Vernon Dale, her younger sister Doris, and brothers: Lloyd, Leslie and Gary. She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn, and her 100-year-old sister, Della, as well as many loving nieces and nephews, sister-in laws, cousins, and friends. She will be missed.