Margit's Obituary
Margit Vang Jensen was born in the North Jutland region of Denmark outside the village of Snedsted on February 27, 1937, to Jens and Helga Jensen. She completed their family as the 2nd child and only daughter, joining her older brother, Anders. Her early schooling was in a small country school in Denmark where it was common for children to complete their schooling after the 6th grade.
At the age of 12, Margit and her family left their home in Denmark and boarded the ship Batory at the port of Copenhagen on November 26, 1949, to begin their journey to America to start their new life in Montana. They arrived in America on December 6, 1949, at Ellis Island, New York with all their belongings contained within 9 small handbags and 2 trunks and began their long journey by train to the Pleasant Prairie Community south of Flaxville, Montana.
Margit spent time learning her new language so she could attend school and eventually graduated from high school from Scobey, Montana. Margit was given her U.S. citizenship in 1956, and went on to attend college at Northern Montana College in Havre where she was a member of the Student Education Association, Lutheran Student Association, and the Western Club. Margit finished her college career at Eastern Montana College in Billings in 1962, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. One of the highlights of her time at Eastern Montana College was when she was the interpreter for the visiting Danish Gymnastics Team that was touring her senior year at Eastern Montana College.
Margit was a lifelong teacher having taught most of her career in elementary schools in Great Falls. She briefly taught early in her career in Denmark, teaching English, but returned to the U.S. for very short teaching assignments in Florida and Eastern Montana. She found where her heart belonged in Great Falls and remained there even after her retirement.
Not only was Margit a teacher but she was also a caregiver. Margit cared for her mother after the unexpected passing of her father in 1965. She faithfully and lovingly cared for her mother for 34 years until she passed away in 1999. Throughout those 34 years, she also cared for numerous young mothers and others by opening her home and giving them a place to stay and a sense of home.
She was a talented photographer and found beauty in all things created by God. She was strong in her faith and was generous with her time, her resources and committed herself to causes greater than herself.
Margit passed from this life on November 24, 2022, at Peace Hospice House in Great Falls, Montana. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jens and Helga Jensen and her brother and sister-in-law, Anders and Meredith Jensen. She is survived by her nephew, Kurt (Monica) Jensen and her niece, Kalu Jensen and her children, Jaycie and Torri Rogenes. She is also survived by many cousins in Denmark.
A funeral service will be Friday, December 2, 2022, at O’Connor Memorial Chapel with viewing at 11:00 am and service beginning at 12:00 pm. Margit will be laid to her eternal rest next to her parents on December 4, 2022, at 1 pm at the cemetery in Flaxville, Montana.
