Mary Kristine Jacobsen Sorensen

Mendon Pioneer Woman Called— Mrs. Mary I. Sorensen, highly respected Mendon pioneer woman, died at her home in Mendon at one o'clock Monday afternoon. Ailments incident to old age was the cause of death. She was 85 years of age. Born in Denmark, Mrs. Sorensen came to Utah with her parents, when she was ten years of age. The family settled in Providence. In 1869 she was married in the Salt Lake Endowment house to Isaac Sorensen and then moved to Mendon where she had been one of the foremost community builders. Funeral services have not yet been arranged. Surviving her are nine of her eleven children, as follows: William I. Sorensen, Hannah Whitney, Joseph C. Sorensen, Henry C. Sorensen and Eulalia Welch, all of Mendon; Minnie Hill of Salt Lake City, Professor Alma N. Sorensen of Logan, Bertha Buist of Wellsville and Olive Hughes of College Ward. ~The Herald Journal, April 22nd, 1935, page 1. Note: The initial I. is for Isaac, it is to distinguish her from the other Mary Sorensens' in Mendon.

Pioneer's Life is Told at Services— Funeral services for Mrs. Mary I. Sorensen were held in the Mendon ward chapel Thursday afternoon. The meeting house was completely filled with relatives and friends of the beloved pioneer. Speakers were President D.M. Bickmore of Hyrum stake, Samuel B. Mitton, Michael Johnson, Bishop Wilford Sorensen, Peter Larsen, Jr. and Bishop Mormon D. Bird. Oliver Taylor, counselor conducted the services. Music was furnished by the ward choir and by Professor and Mrs. N.W. Christiansen. A flute duet was played by Norman Whitney and Dean Hammond, accompanied at the piano by Mozelle Barrett. Prayers were offered by Elmer J. Hancock and Frank Sorensen. Joseph W. Sorensen dedicated the grave. Mrs. Sorensen was born at Vemmelev, Denmark, May 18th, 1850, the daughter of Jacob Christensen and Bertha Hansen. Her father was a well-to-do farmer. He died at the early age of twenty-nine, leaving Mrs. Sorensen's mother with two small children. Within two years the mother married Christian Poulsen, a man of faith and integrity. They accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and emigrated to Utah in 1862. The voyage across the ocean was very hard. They were eleven weeks on the water in a sailing vessel. The drinking water became stagnant and cholera broke out. Many people died on the way. Christian Poulsen saved his family by buying boiled water from the cook. The family came to Providence in the fall of 1862. They had spent much money helping poor saints to emigrate. Mary walked across the plains from Omaha to Salt Lake City. The family spent two years at the old Providence fort. In 1869, Mary married Isaac Sorensen of Mendon. The couple made their home in Mendon. She lived on the same corner during her entire life at Mendon. Eleven children were born to the couple, nine of whom survive. She clothed and fed five children and helped keep her husband on a mission in Denmark for two years. She was always a public worker, caring for the sick and the poor. She was a teacher in the Relief Society for ten years; had charge of the mothers' work for five years and served as Relief Society president for twelve years. The Sorensen home was always open for worthy events. Band practices took place there. Visitors in the town could always find food and shelter. In 1920, Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Isaac Sorensen died November 7th, 1922, after an illness of fourteen months. All four of the sons and one daughter of Isaac and Mary Sorensen fulfilled missions for the church. Mrs. Sorensen died April 22nd at the age of 85 years, following an illness of several weeks. ~The Herald Journal, April 29th, 1935, page 3.

Mendon, Utah— Funeral services were held Thursday for Mrs. Mary I. Sorensen one of the few remaining pioneers of Mendon who died at her home Monday. The chapel was completely filled with mourners of the beloved woman whose charitable nature and devotion to her church, her family and her neighbors won respect and admiration for her from all with whom she associated. The speakers at the services who emphasized these characteristics were Bishop Wilford H. Sorensen of Arimo. Peter Larsen, Mormon D. Bird, President D.M. Bickmore of Hyrum Stake. Samuel B. Mitton of Logan, Michael Johnson of Millville and Counselor Oliver Taylor who conducted and also thanked all in behalf of the family for any aid or assistance given. Musical numbers all of which lent a sympathetic spirit of love and kindly feeling to all that the various speakers said were: "Softly Beams the Sacred Drawing," sung by the choir; violin solo, N.W. Christensen of Logan, accompanied by his wife Mrs. Christensen; flute duet, Norman Whitney and Owen Hammond of Providence with Miss Mozelle Barrett as accompanist, by request Kay Sorensen, grandson of the deceased sang, "I'm a Pilgrim;" mixed quartet from Providence sang the closing number. Prayers were by Elmer J. Hancock and Frank Sorensen of Arbon, Idaho. The flowers were profuse and beautiful and were carried by the grandchildren. Pallbearers were grandsons Howard Whitney of Collingston, Charles Buist of Wellsville, Wendell Sorensen of Logan, Owen and Fred Sorensen and Carl Hill of Salt Lake. Grave at the cemetery was dedicated by Joseph N. Sorensen. Mrs. Sorensen was born at Vemmelev Denmark, May 18th, 1850, the daughter of Jacob Christensen and Bertha Hansen. Her father was a well to do farmer. He died at the early age of 29, leaving Mrs. Sorensen's mother with two small children, within two years the mother married Christian Poulsen a man of faith and integrity. They accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and emigrated to Utah in 1862. The voyage across the ocean was very hard. They were eleven weeks on the water in a sailing vessel. The drinking water became stagnant and cholera broke out. Many people died on the way. Christian Poulsen saved his family by buying boiled water from the cook. The family came to Providence in the fall of 1862. They had spent much money helping poor saints to emigrate. Mary walked across the pains from Omaha to Salt Lake City. The family spent two years at the old Providence Fort. In 1869 Mary married Isaac Sorensen of Mendon. The couple made their home in Mendon. She lived on the same corner during her entire life at Mendon. Eleven children were born to the couple, nine of which survive. She clothed and fed five children and helped keep her husband on a mission in Denmark for two years. She was always a public worker caring for the sick and the poor. She was a teacher in the Relief Society for ten years, had charge of the mothers work for five years and served as Relief Society President for twelve years. The Sorensen home was always open for worthy events. Band practices took place there. Visitors in town could always find food and shelter. In 1920 Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Isaac Sorensen died November 7th, 1922, after an illness of fourteen months. All four of the sons and one daughter of Isaac and Mary Sorensen fulfilled missions for the church. Mrs. Sorensen died April 22 at the age of 85 years, following an illness of several weeks. The following out of town relatives and friends who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Sorensen, Mr. and Mrs. Alma Hill, Mr. and Mrs. Nellie Sloan, Mrs. Andrew Cooley, Mrs. Audrey Stevenson, Mrs. Nora Cornwell, Mrs. Malina Hill and daughters and son Isaac of Salt Lake, Mr. and Mrs. Chancey Sorensen, Mr. and Mrs. Ammon Sorensen, Mr. and Mrs. Parley Sorensen, Mr. and Mrs. George Anderson of Malad City, Mr. and Mrs. Heber Wood, Emer Richards, Colen Sweeten, Mr. and Mrs. John Anderson of Arbon, Idaho, Mrs. Carl Pehrson and daughter Phylis, Mrs. Montrose, Mr. and Mrs. O. Dunn, Mrs. Leslie Dunn of Logan, Mr. and Mrs. William Bowen of Beaver Dam, Miss Grace and Wanda Sorensen of Arimo, Mrs. Edith Henderson of Clifton, Idaho. President J.A. Israelson of Hyrum. Dean Sorensen of Arimo, Mrs. Charles Wyatt of Wellsville, Mrs. D.M. Bickmore of Paradise. ~Newspaper Not Listed.