Dorthea Marie Jensen
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Dorthea was baptized on January 1, 1873 in Denmark and shortly after, began preparing to come to Zion with her husband, Niels and their 7 children. Finally, in 1880, Dorthea and Niels were able to migrate to America and on to Utah with 4 of their children and Dorthea's mother, Ane Marie Andersen. (Two daughters, Sine and Andrea, had sailed to America previously and Ole, their oldest son, stayed in Denmark with his Jensen grandparents). There, Dorthea and Niels made their home in Spring City, Utah.
Here, their youngest son, Niels Brigham, was born. He was a sickly child and had rheumatism and they didn't think he'd grow up, so they had his Patriarchal Blessing, which said he'd go on a mission. Niels and Dorthea sold their home in Spring City in 1890 and moved to Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico for 18 months. Niels didn't like it, so they returned to Spring City and bought a home on the opposite corner of the same block where they originally lived. Dorthea wore a big bob, a shawl or hat on her head, as she had scarlet fever in Denmark and lost her haid, except a little bit. She parted it in the middle and wore these different things. She wore a big full black shirt with a pocket on each side, in which she always carried lump sugar which she always gave to the grandchildren when she saw them. How the grandchildren loved to go to Grandma's house and have a scarpa (crust) of graham bread with lots of butter and cheese on it. Dorthea worked hard her whole life. When Niels went on a mission to Denmark in 1906, Dorthea raised the wool (lamb), sheared and washed and carded the yarn and knit shawls, socks, and vests. She sold them to keep Grandpa on his mission. Dorthea and Niels were also a kind and loving couple. The table at home was always set with cheese and butter and anyone who came in had to eat. The Danish people of Spring City were always good friends, visiting together often and keeping alive a lot of their Danish custom. Dorthea often hosted family dinners inviting uncles and aunts and always, their best friends, Jens Christensen and his wife. |