About Bob Jenson
Lived 1931 – 2018 (aged 86). Bob Jenson was an American politician.
Robert Eugene Jenson (May 11, 1931 – January 6, 2018) was a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He served in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 58, which encompassed Union County, Wallowa County, and portions of Umatilla County. District 58 included the cities Pendleton, La Grande, and Enterprise. Jenson served in the Oregon House since 1997 until 2015. At the time of his retirement, as the member with the most seniority, he held the honorary title of Dean of the House.
Early life and career Jenson was born on a ranch in Omaha, Nebraska in 1931. He received a bachelor of science degree and master's degree in United States History from Montana State University. He served in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1954 and then worked as an airport commissioner.
Jenson moved to eastern Oregon in 1967 and taught at Blue Mountain Community College for 26 years. He also taught high school for 4 years. In 1998, Jenson changed his party affiliation to Independent after becoming dischanted with what he considered extreme environmental positions of the Democratic Party. He was re-elected to the House as an Independent in 1998, and then a year later, became a Republican.
He was re-elected as a Republican in 2000, and won re-election to the House every two years until 2014, when he did not run for reelection.
Personal Jenson and his wife Evelyn lived in Pendleton. They had four children.
Electoral history
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Bob Jenson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bob Jenson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bob Jenson?
American politician (1931-2018)
When was Bob Jenson born?
Bob Jenson was born on 11 May 1931 in Omaha.
When did Bob Jenson die?
Bob Jenson died on 6 January 2018 in Pendleton.
What was Bob Jenson's occupation?
Bob Jenson was a politician.
What nationality was Bob Jenson?
Bob Jenson was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bob Jenson. https://biography.guide/bob-jenson/
MLA: "Bob Jenson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bob-jenson/.
Chicago: "Bob Jenson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bob-jenson/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:03 UTC