Megan's Family History: Happy (Belated) Pioneer Day!

Josh and I recently saw a good pioneer movie called "Ephraim's Rescue." It was by the same director who produced the movie "17 Miracles" last summer. If you have the chance to see either, I highly recommend them. In our family we are fortunate to have many pioneers - from those who crossed oceans and plains and settled in remote areas to those who kept their faith alive and passed it on to the next generation. I like to reflect back on my life and the miracles I have seen. I don't think they're the kind of stuff you make movies about, but they are nevertheless poignant and personal to me. I imagine the pioneers may have felt the same way about their lives at times.

While speaking with my parents on the phone, they reminded me of one pioneer family - the Bertelsens - who came from Denmark. We have a couple from our home ward in Arkansas serving as mission presidents in Denmark and so it reminded us of our ancestors from that country. In my researching, I have come across some fascinating personal histories written about, and by, these ancestors. It's not often that you will find that kind of detailed information about someone who lived nearly 200 years ago, so enjoy!

We connect with the Bertelsen family through Lettie Pratt, whose mother was Emma Bertelsen Dalley, and whose grandmother was Johanna Bolette "Lette" Bertelsen. I had not realized it before reading these histories, but Lette was the first out of her parents (Niels & Maren) and her many siblings to be baptized into the Church. These histories tell of their life in Denmark, conversion to the Church, the persecution they faced, and their new lives in America.

You should be able to download Word documents by clicking on the links below, which you may then save if you choose.

Niels and Maren Bertelsen history

Lette Bertelsen history

As a bonus, I am including pictures of Lette and her mother, Maren, which I copied from a book on pioneer women that I found at BYU-Idaho.