Birth: 18 Aug 1880 in Hesselbjerg,Pae Fírslev,Ringsted,Denmark
Christening: 14 Oct 1880 Forslev,Denmark
Death: 16 Aug 1960 in Santiago,Sherburne Co,Minnesota
Burial: 21 Aug 1960 Danish Cemetery,Becker,Sherburne Co,Minnesota,USA

Note: The biography is a work in progress. Please contribute or correct any mistakes. Thanks, Martha-Lisa Mode Flinsch
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From a note by one of Waldemar's children:

"Nora", (Eleonora Sophie Hansen) was born August 18, 1880 in Hesselbjerg, Pae
Fírslev, Ringsted, Denmark. She was educated at an elementary school in
Denmark. She came to America in the Spring of 1892 with her parents, brothers, sisters, and a brother of her mother.

Nora worked most of her life in other peoples homes as a cook, maid or
governess, in Minneapolis for many years. She took care of a Mrs. Andersen
day and night in Becker as long as I can remember and I saw her often those
years. When Mrs. Andersen died, Nora lived in Becker for a while. She came
to live with my dad (Waldemar), for about five years. The last few months she was in the Lange Nursing Home. Nora never married. She died August 16, 1960.
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From; THE ST. CLOUD DAILY TIMES, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Wednesday,
August 17, 1960.
"NORA HANSEN
Nora Hansen, Santiago, died Tuesday after a lingering illness. She was born Aug. 18, 1880, in Denmark. At the age of eight she came with her parents to the Santiago township. She was engaged in domestic work in the Santiago, Clear Lake, and Becker communities.

Surviving are the following brothers and sisters: Waldemar, Santiago; Harry, Clear Lake; Mrs. Nels Christensen, Kenmore, N.D.; and Mrs. Charles Mode, Steele, N.D.

Friends may call at the Dingman Funeral home, Clear Lake, after noon Thursday and until noon Friday. The body then will be taken to the Becker Methodist church for reviewal until the funeral.

The funeral services will be Friday at 2 p.m. at the Becker Methodist church with Rev. John Parish officiating. Burial will be made in the Danish cemetery, Becker."
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From a funeral card.
"In Memory Of Miss Nora S. Hansen
Date Of Birth August 18, 1880
Date Of Death August 16, 1960
Date And Hour Of Services Friday Aug. 19, 1960 2 P. M.
Held At Methodist Church Becker, Minnesota
Minister Rev. John Parish
Place Of Internment Danish Cemetery Becker Township"
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Condensed from Verna Harris's story of her mother "Anna" Hansen and the Hansen family:
Ane "Anna" Hansen Christianson Daughter of Jens Hansen
Verna Marian Christianson Harris Grandaughter of Jens Hansen

... She ["Anna" Hansen"] was 16 years old when they came to the new land, so she remembered it well. It must have been a nearly impossible hardship for mother Maren [Maren Sophie Jeppesen Hansen Wife of Jens Hansen] to get ready a family of 11 [nine children, 2 parents] for moving. And she was to leave her homeland and her own family behind. Mama said they lived in a long low house, and Maren's mother, Grandmother Jeppsen lived in a couple rooms at one end. She was blind and all the children loved her. They quarreled with each other about taking a bowl of soup that their mother had made for her. For the chance to go over to sweep her floor or do little chores for her. Mama often got to go because she was older. I have wondered who cared for her after the family left.

If it were a hardship for grandmother Maren. It must have been a most challenging task for grandpa Jens, who had to have a sale, keep and pack the most necessary clothing, tools, and household goods for 12 people, one a small baby. He bought 11 tickets so I assume the baby was carried on. Aunt Fanny [Fanny Emilie Hansen Mode Daughter of Jens Hansen] was the baby. I suppose that they boarded a liner in Copenhagen, and it was large, a 5-deck ship.

Mama talked about the trip over durinq our Cando winters, and I wish now that I had asked more questions. They had a space on the third deck with their trunks and belongings packed around them. Her mother had brought two large kettles along and each day made a large pot of soup or stew. Grandpa could buy supplies at the ship's store, and there was a huge coal range that the passengers could use. I'm sure that they had to carry their own water and dispose of their waste which went overboard in those days. People couldn't keep very clean, and Mama said the smells were almost overwhelming. They were even worse when they went by the 4th deck stairs and bilge area. They were not supposed to go up on deck. But Mama said they did sneak up for a breath of fresh air when they could. Their crossing was not too rough, but most of the passengers got motion sickness anyway. It lasted over two weeks and then they were quarantined at Ellis Inland for three days. That was as bad or worse than the voyage, Mama said.
...
Aunt Nora was next and the oldest girl at home, when their mother died. She had to become responsible at an early age, and that maybe accounted for her independence and ability to care for herself. She stayed at home until Jens got married and brought Aunt Vangie home. There was not room for two housekeepers in the same kitchen. So Aunt Nora went out to work at an early age. She never married. Most of her jobs were in the kitchen; she loved to cook and eat and got very heavy. She was single and available so she helped any of her sisters and sister-in-laws through their pregnancies and child-bearing. It may have been when Alfred was born that she came to North Dakota to help her sister Anna. We knew her well. She lived to be 80 years old and died in a nursing home near Becker, of kidney disease.
...
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