Retha Gelene Jensen never met a person that didn’t walk away feeling they had just encountered the embodiment of sweetness. Her kind and generous spirit was felt before it was known. She lived an exemplary life, and passed peacefully at Living Community on February 1, surrounded by her life’s major accomplishment ~ her son Rick Holtsclaw and daughter Rebecca (Becky) Holtsclaw.
Retha raised her family on her own while working full-time for 25 years at Burnham Simpson Insurance Agency as a secretary. Her attention to detail and her commitment to organization, memorialization, and accounting are legendary.
When she was almost 90, she was “talked” into selling her home and moving to Holiday Country Squire. Thanks to her dear sister-in-law Ernestine Elardo (Aunt Ernie ~ “The Mayor”), her final years there were comfortable and enjoyable. She counted on Ernie, but also on Rodney Spangler and Sharon Holtsclaw, who provided her countless lunches, dinner and trips to “Regina’s” so she could always look her best.
Retha was born in Santa Rosa, Missouri (a town so small that it literally no longer even exists) to Willie Rush and Iva Fisher. She loved her parents so much that even though they passed decades earlier, she spoke of them often with great love and emotion. She was a sister to 7 siblings. All of them close and dear to her.
Retha married Gary Holtsclaw and had her three children with him before divorce separated them. She later married Don Jensen, who preceded her in death in 2015.
Retha’s faith was of paramount importance to her. She was a faithful member of Abundant Life Church of Christ and attended regularly until her health prevented it. For many years, she was a regular volunteer at the Church sponsored no-cost thrift store that served those in need.
Retha’s angel daughter Renee preceded her in death but never left her heart for one minute. As requested, she will be laid to rest next to her.
She is survived by Rick Holtsclaw (Elena Franco) of Kansas City/Colorado and Becky Holtsclaw (Paul Gordon) of Colorado Springs, CO., as well as her dear nieces and nephews whose visits and calls always lifted her spirits.
Funeral Service 11:00 AM Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel, where the family will receive friends 1 hour prior from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful caretakers from Home Instead, who cared for Retha the last year and a half with great kindness and compassion, and Mosaic Hospice for their incredible help throughout the past several months and the difficult final days. There’s a special place in heaven for all of you.
They also wish to thank Holiday Country Squire, for their patient, generous daily assistance, and for not really knowing how to say the word “no” to any request.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Emmaus Home of Saint Charles, Missouri, who provided years of comfort to Retha by taking loving care of Renee.
