Christina "Tena" Spencer
April 17, 1946 — January 31, 2025
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Service Details
Christina “Tena” Spencer, 78 of Des Moines, exited this world as stubbornly as she entered and achieved peace from pain on Friday January 31st at home surrounded by her family and her doggies.
Tena was born to Ada Larsen April 17th in Des Moines, IA and was raised by both Ada & Leif Larson.
After Tena graduated in 1964 from Tech High School, she was off to Washington, DC to work her way up into top secret government work. At some point she continued her adventures and landed in Cleveland Ohio where she gave birth to daughter, Natalie. Life brought her back home to Des Moines where she later married Ivan Spencer, and had a son, Timothy. With the kids they did regular midwestern road trips & with each other earned trips to the Bahamas through Amway.
Tena collected and loved many things and filled her home with those things that made her happy; cows, crafts, painting, photos of loved ones, angels, and anything titled “As Seen on TV”, just to name a few. Up until the last couple of years, she found solace in her yardwork and meticulously cared for her acre and flower gardens.
She is survived by her 2 favorite companions, doggies, Bella & Jack; daughter, Natalie (Gary) Martin; son, Tim (Jhoana) Spencer; seven grandchildren, Ashley (Bryan) Bailey, Amber (Will) Haas, Nicole (Ron) Zimmerman, and TJ Spencer; seven great grandchildren, Ronnie, Ella, Zion, Braxton, Mairyn, Baylor, and Atlas. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ivan; and her parents.
Services will be held Friday, February 7, 2025 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. Family will greet friends from 11:00 to 12:00 p.m. with memorial service to follow at 12:00 p.m. followed by burial at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 1 NE 60th Avenue in Des Moines.
Wherever she has ended up, we hope the coffee & Baileys are always warm & channel 93 & Gunsmoke are always on.
In lieu of flowers – or plants her grandchildren will struggle to keep alive (we didn’t get her green thumb) – send donations in her name to the ARL – Animal Rescue League of Iowa, to support her lifelong love of animals & support of local rescues.
Lonnie Anderson McCammond
02/17/2025
I am so sorry for the loss of Tena. I had just talked with her right after the first of the year and she told me of some health issues. I just learned today of her passing. She & I would spend weekends together as children mostly at her house. I know she is at peace now and is pain free. My the memories of all the love and good times sustain you and bring more smiles than tears as time goes by. Love, Lonnie & Frank
Sioux Newberg
02/07/2025
Dear family, I am so sorry for your loss! Dan & I spent hours talking to Ivan & Tena! We lost our excellent mower repair man when Ivan left us! We love talking about our landscaping. Dan got to see them more than I did, being the meat manager at Hy-Vee, They were always so kind and so much fun to visit with! Together again! Peace be with you! I lost Dan three years ago so they can talk about their lawn care again, Much Love! Sioux Newberg
Tracie Dodge
02/05/2025
I will always remember the back yard and all the plants and flowers. I haven’t seen Aunt Tena in awhile, but sure did love her. Say hi to mom and dad, I know they are waiting for you. Love you Aunt Tena.