Ane Kjerstine Poulsen

Biography

Ane Kjerstine was born in Denmark, 1839. At age twenty-six, she married Hans Christian Mortensen, Sr. They became parents of five. Her deep-seated faith in Heavenly Father and her love for the scriptures was ever a constant joy and strength for her. She was a very devoted Lutheran in Denmark and participated in a program to increase her skill in the Church. All remarks and homes she stayed in were recorded in a small book which she kept. She worked as a hired girl doing babysitting, cooking, sewing and cleaning. She also read her scriptures daily and received many awards for her knowledge of them.

She met and fell in love with Hans Christian Mortensen, married him and came to America with him but did not join his new church. He was baptized in Denmark. Just being a newlywed she was able to help young mothers and their children all during the journey across the ocean and across the plains. She was baptized 5 Aug 1877 after the arrival of her fourth child. She was soft spoken, industrious, had a delightful sense of humor, and was a most loving wife and mother. She was a great strength to Hans and backed him all the way. She taught her children to be industrious, loving and to stay close to our Heavenly Father. She was only thirty-seven years of age when she died in childbirth with her fifth child, William.