Elnora Christina Jensen

Born 10 July 1881 to Dorthea Christina Fredericksen and Ole Niels Jensen
Married Peter Christiansen 14 March 1900 in Logan
Elnora-Afton
Died 22 July 1958 in Salt Lake
Buried in Downey

1900 Census
1910 Census
1920 Census
1930 Census


Here's a link to a recipe for a Danish sweet soup.

Elnora Christina Jensen
By Clista Christiansen Campbell (a daughter)
April 23, 1980

My mother, Elnora Christina Jensen Christiansen, was born at Hyrum, Utah on July 10, 1881. Her parents, Ole Neils Jensen and Dorthea Christine Frederickson were converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and emigrated from Denmark.

Mother, as a child, grew up in a home where thrift was always foremost, and work was expected from each child. In her home she learned early the value of work and economy. Yet as a young girl she enjoyed many happy times with friends and relatives, developing a love for fun along with the more serious things. It was this early training, I'm sure, that made her a good wife and mother in our home.

Mother's thoughts for others came before her own welfare. I recall times when Dad had to go to Salt Lake City, taking the older children with him. Mother stayed home and took care or things there. We had cows to milk, a garden to care for, etc. I recall one time Dad brought home a pearl necklace for her; another time he brought an amethyst ring. These little remembrances made her so happy.

She used to make a lunch and take us swimming in the canal near our home. How we enjoyed those times! In the fall she would always help us enjoy what we called a "watermelon bust." This was usually in September when she and Dad went to Brigham City to get fruit and other produce, among which were many, many watermelons. Then we would invite all our friends to our home and we would gorge ourselves with watermelon.

Mother was frugal and mended and made over the clothes for the smaller ones. We girls were taught early to make our own clothing. I think I began with hemming dishtowels. We were taught that "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" and although I used to think that Mother was much cleaner than she need be, as I grew older I was more and more grateful for her teachings of cleanliness and orderliness.

Mother was always active in the Church, especially in Relief Society and Primary. I remember going with her to Primary before I began school. She would often go early to start a fire in the pot-bellied stove so it would be warm when they came from school. In those days Relief Society took much more time than today. It took much love, work, and understanding for the Presidency was called into homes where there was sickness, death or just a need for help. Those sisters performed many services for the community that is now done by professional people.

When we were younger children at home, Mother used to sing a lot. The songs were always ballads or sad songs, for they were the songs of those times. Sometimes she would sing her songs in Danish and we loved to listen to them and try to understand the funny words.

Whenever a new baby arrived at someone's home, Mother always made a "sweet soup" to take to the new mother. This soup was made or fruit juice, tapioca, raisins and spices. It was delicious and looked so tempting in the tureen dish, kept especially for that purpose. This was a Danish food and I thought no new mother could live without it.

I never think of Mother without remembering how much she loved flowers. Many happy hours were spent planting, watering, hoeing, and weeding her flower garden of pansies, sweet peas, grape hyacinths, poppies, and many others. Climbing pink roses reached up to the upstairs porch, and always made me think of the "beanstalk" they climbed so high. We enjoyed all these things... she cared for them.

Perhaps most of all I pay tribute to my mother for the great love she had for her grandchildren. After Dad's death, her grandchildren seemed to fill the lonely hours and give her purpose in life. I think most of her grandchildren must have been bounced on her foot as she sang "Ria-Ria-Runka" (wrong spelling, I'm sure). She always kept a small treat for her loved ones and I think she was happiest and most contented when she had her grandchildren about her.

Hers was not an easy life, but she made the best of things as they came along. She was never afraid to pitch in and work.
Mother was "someone" to be honored and loved for her qualities of thoughtfulness and love, for her kindness and service to those around her.

She will always be remembered by those who love her as a mother and grandmother who has made our lives richer, happier, and more worthwhile because she was with us. May she always live in our hearts and memories.



Peter and Elnora Christina Jensen Christiansen
By Beatrice Veeninga (daughter)
May 29, 1980

My father, Peter Christiansen, was born in Hyrum, Cache County, Utah, 28 July 1877. His father's name was Lars Hans Christiansen who was born 6 March 1844 in Denmark. His mother's name was Anna Dorthea Sorensen. She was born 25 November 1850 in Denmark. They were married and sealed in Salt Lake City, Utah, 26 April 1874 at the Endowment House. Annie Sorensen was Lars' second wife, as polygamy was being practiced at that time. My father had two sisters, Sarah and Laura. They spent time on a farm in the Sterling area, which is near Hyrum. Peter went to school in Hyrum.

My mother, Elnora Christina Jensen was born in Hyrum, Cache County, Utah on 10 July 1881. Her mother's name was Dorthea Christine Fredricksen. She was born 26 October 1856 in Orby, Denmark. She died 21 December 1933. Her father was Ole Neils Jensen, born 6 February 1849 in Ejlstrup, Denmark. He died 4 December 1927. Mother's parents came from Denmark to Utah and were married in the Hyrum and later sealed in the Endowment house at Salt Lake City, Utah in October of 1873. They lived in Hyrum, Utah where their family was born and reared. He was a farmer. They had eleven children of which Mother was the fourth.

Peter and Elnora met in Hyrum, Utah. Their parents were friends and visited each other often. They were married and sealed in the Logan Temple on 14 March, 1900.

Dad and Mother and their children lived in Downey, Idaho, a small town and farming community in southern central Idaho. Dad had homesteaded a dry farm in Cherry Creek a couple of years before he was married, so he and his new wife went there to live. They were very happy living in their log cabin. They worked together clearing the land of sagebrush, putting it into large piles, and then burning it at night. They kept clearing more land, and then they bought some to make a larger farm. They plowed this ground, and did all the required things to produce a good crop of wheat. Mother's health wasn't good so one of her sisters stayed with her most of the time. They built a large frame house on the farm where several of their children were born. After four years of marriage, they started a family. I was the firstborn.

While living on the farm they did things together with their family. They went to church every Sunday at the LDS Woodland Ward, which was about five miles away. They had a white top buggy which was called a Ludlow which they used in the summer and in wintertime they used a sleigh . They would put straw and hot rocks in the bottom of the sleigh to keep warm. While they had this white-top buggy, they made a trip to Hyrum with Mother's parents. Aunt Sylva, mother's sister, went back to Downey with them so she could help mother with her work. They had many friends and relatives while living on the farm, so they were very happy. They had parties and did all the things young people do.

When the children were old enough to go to school, they built a larger house in town in Downey, Idaho. I was five, going on six, when they had this house built. They soon moved into the new home. It had eight large rooms and three rooms in the basement for storage, and later a furnace. This was a beautiful home, and what a day of excitement for them when they moved into it. This was a great accomplishment. Their children all started to school here and graduated from high school also. Through their rest of their lives, they worked together always, and also played together as much as possible. For a few years after moving to town, Dad would go up to the farm in the summertime to do the work. Mother would take care of things at home. I remember when he used to come home on weekends, we were always so happy- Mother especially.

Dad taught all the boys about farming and Mother taught the girls to be good house keepers. She was an excellent one herself. Dad enjoyed sports, especially fishing. He would take the boys with him, sometimes, and often the whole family went. He was active in civic affairs. He served on the school board and was president of the Farmer's Society of Equity. During this time, Mother was teaching Primary, taking all of her children and some others along with her each week. She also was counselor in Relief Society Presidency at one time. Dad served in the Bishopric. Since they moved to town, they could walk to church, and all the family would go each Sunday. Dad and mother were very good parents and taught us well. They were always considerate of their children and all had a great amount of love for each other.

Peter and Elnora continued living in Downey, Idaho doing the things required to care for and educate their children. This lasted for about thirty years. When Peter died 2 February 1931, this was a great loss to Elnora. She tried to carry on as usual with the help of her sons. They soon got married, which made it more difficult as they had to support their wives. Orion finally bought the farm. Mother's health began to fail, so she went into a nursing home in Salt Lake City, Utah. She died 22 July 1958. They are buried side by side in the cemetery in Downey.

This was the end of two great lives, who accomplished much in their time. They both did many good things for others, and were loved by all. Their posterity is great. Many have come from this union.