Christen Peter Torgersen (1883-1951) and Valborg Christina Flongfelt (1885-1948)

Christen Peder Torgersen was born on May 1, 1883 in the country of Norway. As an adult he had light brown hair and blue eyes; he was  5’7½” tall; and on his right hand he had a tattoo mark with his initials—"C.P." (HR).

All of Christen's family immigrated to the United States after they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On 29 June 1897 Christen (age 14) was baptized by Jacob Fikstad and confirmed by Henry Peterson in Fredrikstad (RT). Harassment from neighbors for being Mormon impelled Christen to leave his native country (HR). A Massachusetts Passenger and Crew List notes his arrival in Boston Massachusetts in 1902 with the trade of carpentry and his destination as Ogden, Utah (MP). However, another source contends that he left Norway with one of his sisters and first settled in Idaho, due to the support of a missionary family--that is, a U.S. missionary who had served in Norway saw to their basic needs (HR).

As a sign of his Norwegian heritage Christen changed the spelling of his last name once he arrived in the United States: "Torgersen" was the Swedish spelling, while the new "Torgerson" was the Norwegian spelling. Christen practiced the trade of carpentry, found he was skillful, and made a career (HR).

Valborg was born on September 15, 1885. She arrived on her own as an indentured servant in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1905 (MI) and originally lived for a few months with a Norwegian mother and son by the last name of Johannesen. Christian Johannesen recalled that his mother loved Valborg like a daughter (FS). Later, Valborg lived with her entire immigrant family in Wandamere, a place now occupied by Nibley Park Golf Course Salt Lake City (HR). After marriage, Valborg and Christen occupied a home in south Salt Lake City.

Valborg and Christen married on September 15, 1910. How they met is a matter of discrepancy. One daughter remembers, years later, that they met through fellow Norwegians in Utah (MI); another source tells us that their initial meeting occurred years previously--they knew each other from the Church branch in Norway (HR).

Valborg was musically talented. In her late teens she sang "Norwegian songs written by a great poet" in the Oslo Norway Branch of the Church (FS). In Utah she would often sing Norwegian songs at home, as well as on the grounds of Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City, just for the enjoyment of song. Her voice and melodies at times brought other to tears (HR).

Christen practiced the trade of carpentry, found he was skillful, and made a career. Christen's talent of carpentry led to building many floats for the 24th of July Pioneer Parade held yearly in Salt Lake City, crafting toys for young family members (the couple had 9 children), and even constructing a boat in the basement in one of their homes—as far as is known the boat remained in the basement when the house was bulldozed for the creation of a new road (HR and MI).

The couple belonged to a Norwegian Society in Salt Lake (FS).

"She was simply as happy as a person could be" (FS).

Sources 
Richard C. Torgerson, "Kristen (Christen) Torgerson (Thogersen) and his Mother Johanne Kristensdatter," as found on www.FamilySearch.org >Christen Peder Toregersen [KWC6-YJ7]>Memories>Documents [abbreviated above as RT]

Joshua Paul Myers, "U.S. History Report: Christen Peder Torgersen," as found on www.FamilySearch.org>Christen Peder Toregersen [KWC6-YJ7]>Memories>Documents [abbreviated above as HR]

"Keith Crawford describes his parents: Melvin & Nellie. Mary Torgerson describes her parents: Christen & Valborg (7 March 2015) Interview," as found at www.FamilySearch.org>Mary Joy Torgerson [LXNP-6YZ]> Memories>Audio [abbreviated above as MI]

Massachusetts, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1963, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1917-1943; Microfilm Serial: T938; Microfilm Roll: 57, as found on Ancestry.com [abbreviated above as MP];

Christian Johannesen, "Funeral Sermon: Valborg Christina Flongfelt Torgerson," as found on Ancestry.com, posted by jtdavis ([abbreviated above as FS] )