Florence – Anna Helene (Madsen) Laursen peacefully passed away of natural causes in her home surrounded by her family on February 8, 2017. She was 89 years old.
Anna was born on April 11, 1927 in Overlade, Denmark to Laurids and Birthe Madsen. The youngest of three children, she grew up in a loving family on a beautiful farm in the rural Danish countryside. She was baptized, confirmed, and married in Hyllebjerg Church. Anna’s adolescence was filled with laughter, riding her bicycle, and going to dances with her friends. One of those friends was the love of her life, Martin Laursen. During WWII Anna silently and lovingly supported Martin’s sacrifices as a freedom fighter. It wasn’t until the war was over that their experiences and his heroic efforts would be fully revealed. She was an incredibly proud Danish-American that never boasted about her unique and honorable support role in the Danish Resistance.
On a beautiful autumn day in 1947, Anna walked down the aisle in a wedding gown sewn from parachute material previously retrieved by Martin while on duty undercover. She later dyed the dress pink and wore it again on their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Following their wedding, Anna and Martin welcomed two sons, Jorgen and Bent. In 1955 she and her young family boarded a ship bound for America where they would settle in Sidney, MT on the farm of a distant relative. There they welcomed the birth of their youngest and only daughter, Hanne. They owned and operated Sidney Radiator and Glass before moving to Missoula in 1971. In 1972 Anna and Martin bought what was to be their home for generations upon generations in Florence, MT.
One of Anna’s many talents was her ability to paint stunning views of the Bitterroot Valley. Her uncle, already an accomplished artist, taught young Anna how to paint. It was her creative spirit and immense natural talent that led her to paint thousands of paintings over the course of her lifetime. Nearly equal to her artistic talent was her knack for growing an amazing garden, red roses in particular.
Arguably one of the biggest joys in her life was her role as “Grandma Anna” to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, all of their friends, and her Sunday school pre-school students. It was not uncommon for her to be introduced by her first name and within a single conversation a complete stranger would be hugging her and referring to her as Grandma Anna. She was our grandmother and we are proud to “share” her with the world. She deserved the world and the world is a better place because of her.
Anna is survived by her children, Jorgen Laursen of Missoula, Bent Laursen of Stevensville, and Hanne (Laursen) Buss of Missoula/Sidney, her 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Martin Dahl Laursen of Florence, MT.
A memorial was held Saturday, February 18 at Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville. Condolences can be sent to Whitesitt Funeral Home, 314 Church St, Stevensville MT 59870. Memories may also be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.