Christena Swenson

About

Christena Swenson was born July 10, 1834 in Balkeryd, Sweden to Sven Jacobsson and Ingiered Samuelsson.

History

The Swenson family moved from Sweden to Bornholm, Denmark in 1859. Christena's younger sister Anna Regina Svensdotter recounts their conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"

"...and in company with myself emigrated to Copenhagen, Denmark on the 1st of April, 1859. At that time neither us had heard anything about the Latter-day Saints, but we soon heard it, and on the 30th of April, the same year, we were baptized, and on the 1st day of May we were both confirmed into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She (Christena) was baptized by Elder Olson, and confirmed by Elder Johnson, and emigrated to Utah in 1863..."1

Christena, with her younger sister Anna, sailed from Denmark on an unknown date on an unknown boat. They made it to Florence, Nebraska Territory, joined the John F. Sanders Company on July 6, 1863, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 5.

In connection with Anna, Christena married Hans Madsen Funk on Dec 27, 1864 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They soon moved to Richmond where the majority of Hans' family was living.1

Christena lived in Richmond, helped settle Weston, Idaho, and spent the rest of her life in Newton when Hans was called as bishop of the area.

Epilogue

Christena Swenson died May 12, 1886 from cancer3 in Newton, Utah. She was buried in the Richmond Cemetery. Anna writes as an epilogue:

"Dearest sister, I had to lose thee, and I cannot tell you how I feel, but I can tell here how I loved you; you were always so good and kind, not only to me, but to all around you and an honor in the placed where you lived. Often were you left so lonely, busy working all the time, but the Lord our God did love you, and I know you have been a faithful wife and loving mother, and a sister good and kind, not to talk about another, nor with their doings fault to find."1