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.Jens and Anna Thompson
information from their daughter Emma Thompson Jorgensen
about 1903 Jens and Anna
children
Joseph (Joe), Emma, Marie
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After Jens and Anna joined the Church, they were disowned by family as well as friends. "Sponsored" by two of the missionaries, they came to America. Having buried three children in Denmark, Anna and three remaining children, Marie, Joseph, and Emma, arrived in Ephraim on July 28, 1900.
Anna went to work for Jens Larsen (who lived down by the railroad tracks). She and the children lived there, and she kept house for the Jensens to support herself and children until her husband could come. Jens had had to remain in Denmark to pay for the passage of Anna and the children, and then save for his own. He managed to borrow enough so that he could come over about November 1900. He sent money back to Denmark to repay the loan.
Emma, Joe, and Marie were joined by two brothers after coming to Utah. Ephraim, who only lived about five weeks, and then Merrill LeRoy.
Emma went to the early Ephraim schools, attending "1st Beginner" and "2nd Beginner" classes, then 1st through the 8th grade. Her picture and diploma were framed and hung on the wall because she was the first of Jens and Anna's children to finish school. The first school was the Central Schoolhouse located where the old post office was on Main Street. Then it was moved to the old South Ward chapel. By the fourth grade. the old Ephraim School on 1st East and 1st South was built. Emma graduated from school in this building. This was the end of formal schooling, for most. Those who desired to obtain a teaching certificate went to Snow Academy for two more years .
Emma remembers having to take her little brother to school, and trying to get him to stop crying. and having to go into his class for awhile each morning. Then when she got to her class, she would be scolded for being late.
Emma began doing hired house-work when she was about 12 years old. working for many people in town.
Emma met Joseph Lyman Lenard Jorgensen (link not available on line) when they were both very small, as the Thompsen family was invited to Dorcas Jorgensen's for dinner quite often, both couples being recently from Denmark. The friendship of Lyman and Emma blossomed into romance, but the wedding they had talked about was postponed when they knew Lyman would be going overseas to war. But just one month to the day after he got home, they were married.
Jens went on a mission to Denmark in 1918. He was able to see his mother before she died in a nursing home in Denmark. While there Jens sang in a choir. Two pictures were taken while there, click on the MORE PHOTOS page.
Note: January 04, 2006. Visit with Dorothy Ann Jorgensen and Carol Marie Mortensen. Carol commented that while Jens was on his mission he stayed with her Grandparents, Nels Christian and Ingberg Mortensen. Her brother has some pictures of them and Jens in their Denmark home. Jen's daughter Emma is Dorothy's mother. Dorothy remembers her Grandfather, Jens living in their home when she was a child.
The family had a very hard time while Jens was on his mission. And when he came home it wasn't long before he was sent back for another mission. The family didn't complain but friends and other close family members had a very hard time dealing with it. They wondered why the church would send Jens away when his family was in such poor condition.
In 1960 Dorothy moved into the apartment with her older sister Leda, and a good friend Carol Mortensen. Dorothy and Carol still live in an apartment together as of January 04, 2006. Carol grew up in Ephraim and lived only a few blocks away from the Jorgensen's.
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Jens around 1944
April 1950 newpaper Obituary
died: Friday April 7, 1950 = 83 years 10 months 29 days
burried: Monday April 10, 1950
Jens Thomsen
EPHRAIM... Funeral services for Jens Thomsen, 83, who died Friday at the home of a niece, Mrs. Boyden Christensen, Ephraim, of causes incident to age, will be conducted Monday at 2 p.m. in Ephraim South Ward Chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Friends may call at the Christensen home Sunday evening and until time of services Monday. Burial in Ephraim cemetery will be directed by Buchanan mortuary.
Mr. Thomsen was born May 9, 1866, near Alborg, Denmark, a son of Thomas and Maria Jensdatter Thomsen. He married Anna Bergetta Poulsen in Denmark.
In 1916 Mr. Thomsen filled a three-year mission for the church in Denmark.
Ephraim.
Mrs. Thomsen died Feb. 23, 1944 in
Survivors are a daughter. Mrs. Emma Jorgensen, Ephraim; a son, Merrill LeRoy Thomsen, Salina, Sevier county; 22 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
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