"Morten Jensen, Richfield Citizen, Answers Call

"Entire City Mourns Loss of One of the Foremost Fellow Townsmen –

"We looked our last on the aged face
With its look of peace, its patient grace –

"Morten Jensen is dead. He passed away peacefully in the early morning hours Sunday after a long, lingering illness. His death has brought the bitter cup of sorrow to the lips of friends and relatives. His was a golden disposition. He was one of nature's noblemen in the true sense of the word, brave, generous, manly, with the soul of honor, and his friends and friendships were sacred to him.

"Morten Jensen was born May 22, 1861, at Hvering, Denmark. His parents embraced Mor-monism in their native land and emigrated with their five sons to Utah in 1868, Morten being then seven years of age, and the youngest of the family. They left Denmark June 7 and ar-rived in Salt Lake City September 25, 1868, crossing the ocean in the sailing vessel ‘Emerald Isle,' being on the water eight weeks during which time thirty-seven deaths occurred. From New York to Fort Benton the trip was made on the railroad, the remainder of the way to Salt Lake City by ox team, this being the last company of emigrants that crossed the plains by team. The railroad was extended to Ogden the following year. The family was met in Salt Lake City by a relative who took them to Parowan where they resided until the spring of 1873, when they sought a new home in Richfield. The Sevier valley was then being re-settled after having been abandoned a few years on account of Indian troubles (the Black Hawk War).

"In 1882 Mr. Jensen married Christene Christiansen. From this union were born fifteen children, of whom the following, in addition to his wife, now survive him: Morten C. Jensen of Richfield, H. Curtis Jensen of Provo, Mrs. C. M. Madsen of Ephraim, Irvin N. Jensen of Richfield, Mrs. C. W. Stevens of Garfield, Mrs. Benj. Ward of Richfield, Harvey Jensen of Richfield, Frances G. Jensen of Richfield and Pearl Jensen of Richfield, also eighteen grand-children, and two brothers, Rasmus and Andreas Martin, both of Richfield.

"Morten Jensen was an indefatiguable church worker, having held many positions and per-formed much valuable service for a period of over forty years. In March, 1884, he was called to go on a mission to the Northern states, returning in December, 1885. In September, 1898, he was called to go on a second mission, this time to Scandinavia, returning home December 14, 1900. In September, 1913, he was called to labor in the Manti temple where he did his duty until April, 1916. During this period he moved his family to Manti where they lived until he was released from that position, when they again took up their abode in Richfield.

"During his active services in the church, he held the following positions of responsibility: Ward teacher, Sunday school teacher, assistant superintendent of ward and stake Y.M.M.I.A.,
Assistant stake superintendant of Sunday schools, high councilor, president of high priest's quorum, home missionary and patriarch.

"In civil affairs he was also very active and held the following offices: Constable for six years, member of the school board for three years, member of the county commissioners where he acted as chairman for four years, member of the city council. He also held the position as president of the Sevier Valley Canal Co. and president of the Otter Creek Reservoir Co. at the time of his death and for seven or eight years prior thereto, was president of the Model Mercantile Co., for several years, was one of the founders of the Young block and engaged prominently in different business enterprises.

"He was naturally a man of strong connections, always willing and anxious to defend the rights of those whom he had been called to represent when occasion required. Mr. Jensen was a kind and loving husband and father, one who believed in teaching by example as well as by precept, was beloved and respected by a large circle of relatives and friends who looked upon him as a man of fine example, sterling quality, charitable and kind in all his actions, a man who will be greatly missed by the entire community.

"Funeral services will beheld in the First ward chapel Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock."

Richfield Reaper, April 23, 1925, 1 and 4. See also April 30, 1925, 1.