Jens Jorgen Dohn Thuesen
Jens Jorgen Dohn Thuesen, age 83, went to be with his Lord and
Savior at 12 noon, Oct. 11, 2010. Jens passed peacefully at his
home, where he had been cared for since suffering a stroke three
months ago.
Dad was born on Jan. 21, 1927, in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Paul
and Esther Thuesen. As a teenager in Denmark during the Nazi
occupation, Jens joined the Danish Underground Resistance. Jens
loved to tell his grandchildren of his exploits blowing up Nazi
munitions plants and arranging safe passage to Sweden for Danish
Jewish citizens. At age 17, Jens was apprehended by the Nazis
and spent nearly a year in a German prison. Upon release he
joined the Danish army.
After World War II, Jens began work as an apprentice in the
lumber industry in Denmark. On a ski vacation to Norway in 1946,
he met the love of his life Bodil “Bitten” Birkeland. They
married in 1947. In 1948, Jens received a scholarship to come to
Aberdeen, Wash., to learn more of the lumber industry. Jens left
for the United States in 1948 while Bitten and their
10-month-old daughter Anne remained in Copenhagen. Once settled
in his job at a lumber mill in Aberdeen the family joined him
later in 1948. The family fell in love with America and
completed the steps necessary to immigrate to the United States.
A son, Jorgen Kenneth, was born in 1949 while living in
Aberdeen.
After moving to Seattle, Dad held several different jobs
including building boats, sales and managing retail stores. The
biggest change of Dad’s life occurred during this time when,
through the testimony of the family physician, Bitten and Jens
became Christians. Sharing his faith became Dad’s life passion.
Dad loved music, art and history. With his ear for music, Jens
taught himself to play the organ, piano and accordion. When the
family moved to Ballard, Wash., Jens managed a very successful
music store until his retirement.
Jens and Bitten moved to Billings in the late 1980s in order to
be near their daughter and four grandchildren. In addition to
family, they loved the church family at St. Stephens Episcopal.
They enjoyed having family and friends visit from Washington and
Denmark as well as their own travels.
Dad was preceded in death by his wife Bitten and brother Bjorn
of Edmonds, Wash. Jens is survived by his daughter, Anne
McFarlane (Glenn); grandchildren Tobin McFarlane; Sean and Heidi
McFarlane; Carey Anne and Gary McMann; and Sgt. Christopher and
Lindsay McFarlane; as well as four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 16, at St.
Stephens Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. The church is located at
1241 Crawford Ave., Billings.
Memorials in Jens’ name may be made to RiverStone Hospice, Salvation Army of Billings or charity of your choice.
Remembrances
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