Helene Marie Nielsen

Biography

Helene, “Linnie,” Nielsen Richens was born in Hjorring, Denmark on July 26, 1860. Her older siblings and parents converted to the LDS church when she was 5 years old, and they immigrated to Utah in 1865, when she was five years old. Her family settled in Pleasant Grove where her father ran a flour mill. In 1877 when she was 17, Helene married Albert Richens. They stayed in Pleasant Grove for eight years and had four children there. After her twin sister Augusta married a gentleman, Linnie’s rough husband became jealous and moved their family to Vernal, far away and removed from civilization. Her husband was not kind to her, though Helene was always soft-hearted. There the couple had five more children, whom Helene raised in their log-cabin home. Her life was hard and full of sadness, as Albert often took long leaves from the family for unknown reasons.