Sometimes an old box is just a place to put stuff, and sometimes an old letter is just a bunch of words. But sometimes you find an old box, look inside, and find an old letter that gives you an emotional or spiritual connection to the past.
A couple of years ago, my aunt, Peggy Young, who lives in Chester, Utah, found a little old box in an old home there in Chester where some of our relatives used to live. The house was about to be torn down so she gave it one last search to make sure there was nothing of value left inside.
A couple of years ago, my aunt, Peggy Young, who lives in Chester, Utah, found a little old box in an old home there in Chester where some of our relatives used to live. The house was about to be torn down so she gave it one last search to make sure there was nothing of value left inside.
"I found this cool looking box but I didn't even open it. I didn't think there was anything in it," Peggy said.
She took the box home, put it in a closet, and forgot about it until one day her granddaughter, Kenadee Young, who was about 10 years old at the time, saw it and asked if she could look inside. "I told her to go ahead. Kenadee's the snoop at our house," Peggy said. There were empty envelopes and a few old cards inside that someone had saved for some long-forgotten reason.
But the real prize was a letter, written in Danish, dated 1947, and addressed to my great-great grandfather in Chester, from someone in Denmark. It had gone unnoticed for over 60 years. "I was flabbergasted," Peggy said. "I thought it was just an empty box."
She wanted the letter translated into English but didn't know anyone locally who spoke fluent Danish. She mentioned the letter to a co-worker, Gunnison, Utah resident Cindy Willden, who told her that Kirsten Olsen, also from Gunnison, could translate it.
Cindy graciously brought the letter to Kirsten, and Kirsten brought the letter to life. And we're all grateful for their efforts. "I really enjoyed this letter. It was fun to do," Kirsten said. "Some letters don't say much, but this one did."
"It was such an interesting little letter, and it told a lot," Peggy said. "So, I thought it was neat. Cindy said she cried when she read it, and I did too, just thinking how hard that woman had to struggle."
I spent some time with Kirsten and her husband Jorgen at their home in Gunnison one afternoon, talking about the letter and all things Danish- it was a great experience. (Although Jorgen and I nearly got carried away talking about soccer.) (Sad side note- Jorgen passed away last year. Nice, nice guy.) Translating letters and documents between Danish and English is a service Kirsten has provided many times. She's even translated letters for the family of famed artist C.C.A. Christensen.
Jorgen and Kirsten emigrated to the United States with their family from Denmark in 1980, first living in Salt Lake City for 18 years, then making their way here to the Gunnison Valley after some encouragement from Gunnison's own Ardean Anderson, who, as a young missionary in Denmark, converted the couple and their two children to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They've been in Gunnison for about 10 years now. "We love it here," Kirsten said.
Kirsten is already famous locally for knitting hats for each baby born at the Gunnison hospital. The number just reached eleven-hundred. In Salt Lake, Kirsten worked at the LDS Church offices, and Jorgen was a skilled engraver. I also learned that, in their younger years in Denmark, Jorgen was a talented gymnast, and Kirsten was one of the country's finest swimmers. Thanks to Kirsten, we discovered that the author of the letter is named Emma, and she was my great-great grandfathers niece. His name was Christian Larsen and he'd joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Denmark in the year 1897. The son of a Protestant Preacher, Christian was basically expelled from his own family after his conversion, and eventually moved to Utah with his wife and children, including his son (and my great-grandfather) Charly Larsen. The family settled in Chester, Sanpete County, Utah- my hometown.
My mother, Renee Larsen Peterson, has done a lot of research on the Christian Larsen family, but little is known of his brothers and sisters. None of our family here in Utah knew of Emma until this letter turned up. It was dated March 31, 1947, just two years after World War II ended. But all of Europe, including Denmark, continued to struggle after those five years of occupation and terror.
While the struggles and joys of folks in Denmark in 1947 were much different than ours today, they were also similar. People then relied on the same divine being for comfort and guidance as many of us do here, today.
I hope you don't mind if I share Emma's letter with you folks. A big "Thank You" to Cindy Willden, and Kirsten and Jorgen Olsen, for all your help.
Dear Uncle Christian-
One-thousand thanks for your letter. You do not know how happy I was for that. It was kind of you to answer that fast. Why didn't we start corresponding a long time ago? It would have been a joy for both of us. Thanks for your invitation, and believe me, if I didn't have my dear old mother, I would have come. I have always had a great wish to go abroad.
Only 18 years old I got married, same year we had a little girl, Tove, born Nov. 16, 1918. Again a little girl, Ida, born Nov. 6, 1920, another little girl, Ellis, born March 11, 1922. She died the same year August 30. A little boy, Feb. 12, 1925. He died the next year March 7. Then came my last child, Musse, June 5, 1929.
The years went by. God had called and taken from me what He wanted. After that I had no peace, always frictions and at last I could not take it anymore. Christmas Eve 1943 I made up my mind. I talked to God about it, and when I thought I heard His opinion and blessing all went well.
Even when I, with a bleeding heart, left the home that had been so dear, Jesus helped me through it all. My little girl and I moved to Aalborg and we have struggled. We have walked hand in hand, and she is my sunbeam and the best thing in the world for me. I felt it really difficult when I lost the two dear children, but my little Musse (that is what I call her) she has truly compensated for what the Lord took.
The two other daughters are different. Sweet girls but without love in their hearts. The city has taken them, they are in Copenhagen. Musse is a telephone operator, not far from Aalborg. We cannot be without each other.
I have told you about my job at one of the biggest newspapers in town. I am so happy for that job, and daily I give thanks for it. Moneywise, I have nothing to brag about. Believe me, dear uncle, when you are a single woman and have to pay all the bills and have started from the bottom when I was 43, then you have to struggle hard, but Jesus has helped me.
I am healthy and in a good mood. I am just afraid when the day comes when I cannot work anymore. What will be of me? I have my mother, but she is not well and that is another responsibility. My beloved Dad is in peace with Jesus. Mother is in a hospital, she sends her regards. She is waiting for a letter from you, dear Uncle. Please, write her soon.
Isn't it strange? It feels like we have known each other for a long time. What if I one day could go to America? Then I can drive with you in your car and see so many places. Would you like to see our little Denmark again? We have had such a hard time in our little country in those five vicious years. There is still pressure on us, there are many things we cannot get. We still have ration cards.
I believe you may be tired of all I am writing, but I will so much look forward to your next letter and remember to write my dear mother. I think she will come home after Easter. Love to you from Your Emma. Love also to my cousins.
She took the box home, put it in a closet, and forgot about it until one day her granddaughter, Kenadee Young, who was about 10 years old at the time, saw it and asked if she could look inside. "I told her to go ahead. Kenadee's the snoop at our house," Peggy said. There were empty envelopes and a few old cards inside that someone had saved for some long-forgotten reason.
But the real prize was a letter, written in Danish, dated 1947, and addressed to my great-great grandfather in Chester, from someone in Denmark. It had gone unnoticed for over 60 years. "I was flabbergasted," Peggy said. "I thought it was just an empty box."
She wanted the letter translated into English but didn't know anyone locally who spoke fluent Danish. She mentioned the letter to a co-worker, Gunnison, Utah resident Cindy Willden, who told her that Kirsten Olsen, also from Gunnison, could translate it.
Cindy graciously brought the letter to Kirsten, and Kirsten brought the letter to life. And we're all grateful for their efforts. "I really enjoyed this letter. It was fun to do," Kirsten said. "Some letters don't say much, but this one did."
"It was such an interesting little letter, and it told a lot," Peggy said. "So, I thought it was neat. Cindy said she cried when she read it, and I did too, just thinking how hard that woman had to struggle."
I spent some time with Kirsten and her husband Jorgen at their home in Gunnison one afternoon, talking about the letter and all things Danish- it was a great experience. (Although Jorgen and I nearly got carried away talking about soccer.) (Sad side note- Jorgen passed away last year. Nice, nice guy.) Translating letters and documents between Danish and English is a service Kirsten has provided many times. She's even translated letters for the family of famed artist C.C.A. Christensen.
Jorgen and Kirsten emigrated to the United States with their family from Denmark in 1980, first living in Salt Lake City for 18 years, then making their way here to the Gunnison Valley after some encouragement from Gunnison's own Ardean Anderson, who, as a young missionary in Denmark, converted the couple and their two children to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They've been in Gunnison for about 10 years now. "We love it here," Kirsten said.
Kirsten is already famous locally for knitting hats for each baby born at the Gunnison hospital. The number just reached eleven-hundred. In Salt Lake, Kirsten worked at the LDS Church offices, and Jorgen was a skilled engraver. I also learned that, in their younger years in Denmark, Jorgen was a talented gymnast, and Kirsten was one of the country's finest swimmers. Thanks to Kirsten, we discovered that the author of the letter is named Emma, and she was my great-great grandfathers niece. His name was Christian Larsen and he'd joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Denmark in the year 1897. The son of a Protestant Preacher, Christian was basically expelled from his own family after his conversion, and eventually moved to Utah with his wife and children, including his son (and my great-grandfather) Charly Larsen. The family settled in Chester, Sanpete County, Utah- my hometown.
My mother, Renee Larsen Peterson, has done a lot of research on the Christian Larsen family, but little is known of his brothers and sisters. None of our family here in Utah knew of Emma until this letter turned up. It was dated March 31, 1947, just two years after World War II ended. But all of Europe, including Denmark, continued to struggle after those five years of occupation and terror.
While the struggles and joys of folks in Denmark in 1947 were much different than ours today, they were also similar. People then relied on the same divine being for comfort and guidance as many of us do here, today.
I hope you don't mind if I share Emma's letter with you folks. A big "Thank You" to Cindy Willden, and Kirsten and Jorgen Olsen, for all your help.
Dear Uncle Christian-
One-thousand thanks for your letter. You do not know how happy I was for that. It was kind of you to answer that fast. Why didn't we start corresponding a long time ago? It would have been a joy for both of us. Thanks for your invitation, and believe me, if I didn't have my dear old mother, I would have come. I have always had a great wish to go abroad.
Only 18 years old I got married, same year we had a little girl, Tove, born Nov. 16, 1918. Again a little girl, Ida, born Nov. 6, 1920, another little girl, Ellis, born March 11, 1922. She died the same year August 30. A little boy, Feb. 12, 1925. He died the next year March 7. Then came my last child, Musse, June 5, 1929.
The years went by. God had called and taken from me what He wanted. After that I had no peace, always frictions and at last I could not take it anymore. Christmas Eve 1943 I made up my mind. I talked to God about it, and when I thought I heard His opinion and blessing all went well.
Even when I, with a bleeding heart, left the home that had been so dear, Jesus helped me through it all. My little girl and I moved to Aalborg and we have struggled. We have walked hand in hand, and she is my sunbeam and the best thing in the world for me. I felt it really difficult when I lost the two dear children, but my little Musse (that is what I call her) she has truly compensated for what the Lord took.
The two other daughters are different. Sweet girls but without love in their hearts. The city has taken them, they are in Copenhagen. Musse is a telephone operator, not far from Aalborg. We cannot be without each other.
I have told you about my job at one of the biggest newspapers in town. I am so happy for that job, and daily I give thanks for it. Moneywise, I have nothing to brag about. Believe me, dear uncle, when you are a single woman and have to pay all the bills and have started from the bottom when I was 43, then you have to struggle hard, but Jesus has helped me.
I am healthy and in a good mood. I am just afraid when the day comes when I cannot work anymore. What will be of me? I have my mother, but she is not well and that is another responsibility. My beloved Dad is in peace with Jesus. Mother is in a hospital, she sends her regards. She is waiting for a letter from you, dear Uncle. Please, write her soon.
Isn't it strange? It feels like we have known each other for a long time. What if I one day could go to America? Then I can drive with you in your car and see so many places. Would you like to see our little Denmark again? We have had such a hard time in our little country in those five vicious years. There is still pressure on us, there are many things we cannot get. We still have ration cards.
I believe you may be tired of all I am writing, but I will so much look forward to your next letter and remember to write my dear mother. I think she will come home after Easter. Love to you from Your Emma. Love also to my cousins.
