The Family of Laust (Lars) and Elsie Christensen of Denmark

 

Laust (Lars) Christensen and Elsie Kirstine Pedersen

This couple are the parents of my great-grandfather, Peter Christian Christensen, a Danish immigrant who founded the Bell Bakery in Huron, South Dakota.  That their story is complete to this extent shows the benefit of collaboration and thanks to everyone sharing their own family photos and research, we now have a much better understanding of their lives.

Laust (sometimes referred to as Lars) Christian Christensen was born 12 July 1856 at Døstrup, Hindsted Herred, Ålborg county of Denmark.  He was the only child of Christen Pedersen and Gjertrud Christensdatter, who both died young.

Elsie Kirstine Pedersen, daughter of Peder Christian Larsen and Jacobine Sørensdatter, was born 04 June 1859 in Hostruphúse, Hindsted Herred,  Ålborg county.

Laust and Elsie had twelve children, the first one born three months prior to their marriage, which took place on 27 November 1880 in Døstrup.  At this time, Laust was a lieutenant in the Danish army, but took a job as a "land post," the Danish equivalent to a mail man.  Elsie is described by her daughter Caroline as a "beautiful, proud woman," but also "hard" and not very affectionate toward her children.  Laust had tuberculosis and during the years he was sick Elsie did most of his work.  Laust succumbed to this disease on 31 March, 1901 at Døstrup.

Elsie struggled to care for her children.  The boys were sent to work as farmhands for other people, and the girls as household servants.  One by one, the older children (including my great-grandfather, Peter) came to the United States and worked to pay passage for their other siblings.  Eventually, Elsie and her second husband, Jens Eriksen, also immigrated and settled in the Omaha, Nebraska area.  From their, the children spread throughout the midwest, and several to California.  Elsie and Jens died in Omaha in the 1930s.