Hansine Rebecca Jorgensen Frost - my Great-Grandmother

My uncle, Vernon Parent, wrote his memories of his grandmother, Hansine Rebecca Jorgensen Frost (1865-1935):

Dear Family,

My memories of Grandmother Frost are fleeting, but I reverence the great work she accomplished in rearing her family and supporting Grandpa Frost in his mission to Denmark with her small family and a farm to manage up in Cache Valley just South of the Benson ward chapel. She had limited help from her Jorgensen brothers, but accomplished most of the farming by herself while tending 3 small children. She was a great help to my mother who had challenges with my older brother, Joseph, and Grandmother tutored Joseph in their Riverton home for a year to allow Mother more time to make a better adjustment to life on our Minnesota farm, and overcome the undercurrents in our Grand Forks branch of the church, from sister who had eyes on dad as a future husband, only to have a Utah girl snatch him up in a surprise manner! Grandmother Frost received inspiration that mother would marry Dad the first time she met him when he came to her Bluffdale home seeking the young lady he had seen in his dream, and she told mother that he was her intended mate to which Mother exclaimed, "Mother, I do not even know the man." She visited our farm home in Minnesota, pitching in to help Mother during 1931 when Virginia was on the way, and so I am blessed to be in a photograph with both of my grandmothers!

Grandmother Parent, Grandmother Frost, Vernon, Elaine, Virginia, and Marilyn Parent

Grandmother Frost accompanied Peter on their mission to the Grand Forks district, and so was able to give loving support to Mother and we children during their 1934-1935 proselyting mission, until a short time before her death in 1935. This last visit was always a great comfort to Mother who felt isolated from her family in Utah!

Aunt Geneva inherited most of the belongings from Grandfather and Grandmother Frost and our cousin helped Aunt Geneva organize and type up copies of some of their family history materials. Now cousin Sherrie Burdick has acquired some of those history documents, and is sharing with the Frost family members. Thus I am forwarding the attachment she shared with me, so you will know and remember what a great and spiritual and loving grandmother I know and appreciate. Not only was she spiritual, sensitive, and caring, she was also one of the hardest workers for her family, but also very caring and diligent to serving others, even hobos who came to their home in Salt Lake City asking for a handout. In fact, Grandfather was continually trying to remove the "good for a meal" markers left on their property, informing the hobos that this house was always good for a kind and generous handout. All of Grandfather's Danish converts also enjoyed Grandmother's good cooking and generous heart staying in their home for extended periods until they established themselves in Zion.

Grandfather Frost, Vernon Frost Parent, Grandfather Parent

The following is a letter from a Benson Ward, Cache Valley, friend Celestia Rogers, who attended Rebecca Jorgensen Frost's funeral in Riverton, Utah:

Logan, Utah, June 26, 1935

Dear Brother Frost and children,

You, no doubt, have decided I was not going to keep my word in writing when I returned home from the funeral of dear Sister Frost. No! Never could I forget. I have had you all in my thoughts and prayers, many, many, times.

My love and sincere sympathy go out as a true friend and comforter. I must say, outside of my own family, she has been more to me than anyone in my life - to encourage me in my trials and sufferings, and strengthen me when weak, giving me hope when faint - a true mother and sister indeed.

I felt during the funeral that half had not been told, and I never felt in my life more of a desire to speak of one's true virtues and goodness than there. Since coming home, I can't think of her as gone from us, for I seem to feel her sweet influence more than before.

I feel as though I had been down there on a very brief visit with you and saw nearly all of your family, and had a few words with you all.  Only she was sleeping, and I dare not disturb her sweet rest, but that sweet countenance is so clear in my mind that it will never be erased from my  memory.

As I told our girls, it hardly seemed that death had come because her spirit was felt so plainly. She has filled her mission here completely, and I feel that her good deeds will ever go on here through her fine family of boys and girls. May each of them remember her good counsel and live over again all the wonderful examples she set for them to follow.

The older they grow, the more they will understand how to follow her footsteps. May they all have that desire and ever pray for guidance to obtain the goal she has won. I feel with all my heart, that I have ever walked by her side, a most worthy husband and father.

May our Father in Heaven, who is all merciful and loving, comfort and cheer us in our loneliness, that we may understand and feel in our souls that he has given us one of the most precious gifts he could possibly bestow upon his loving children.  She was a true, devoted wife and loving mother for time and all eternity, and I feel I have in her a true friend....

Now, I am writing this to all. I hope the children will all be able to read it, for it is my Heart Sentiments and Sympathy and love to all.

I would love to have a short letter of acknowledgment from all of you, for you are all near and dear to our hearts. Mark and our girls join in love and friendship.

From true and loyal friends,
Brother and Sister Rogers and families
Come and see us (Celestia and the girls)
I trust this finds all well.

(Note from Aunt Geneva: Celestia Rogers was our close neighbor in Benson ward. I was named for her - Celestia Geneva Frost).