Helen Wilson

Helen Emily Johnson Wilson passed away peacefully on the morning of December 27, 2009 in Salem, Utah. She joined her husband of almost 50 years.

Helen was born August 6, 1917 in Spanish Fork, Utah to Emily and Autna P. Johnson (Arni Palsson, born in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland). She attended and graduated from Spanish Fork High School. She married Fred L. Wilson in Los Angeles, CA in 1937. They were later sealed in the Provo Temple. She was a school lunch worker for many years and was The head baker for several schools. She also worked for J.C. Penney and the Del Monte Cannery in Spanish Fork. After she retired and after her husband died, she enjoyed several years as a Grandmother for The Grandparent program. She was a talented artist-family and friends have many of her beautiful paintings.

She was also one of the few remaining "full-blooded" Icelanders in Spanish Fork. Her mother, Emily Johnson, was born in Minnesota to Icelandic emigrants Einar Herman Jonsson and Gudrun Halgrimsdottir.

Helen is survived by three children, Lois Ann Cameron (Dave), Spanish Fork; William LaMar Wilson (Marilynn), Payson; and Helen Marie Jackson, Shoshone, Idaho; 11 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren, 17 great great grandchildren (incl. one unborn), and 1 unborn great great, great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers, (Jack and Heber Johnson); two sisters, (Christine Yergensen and Cecil Curtis Gull), and a newborn brother.

The family sincerely thanks the staff at the Salem Beehive home for their loving and compassionate care and A-Plus Hospice for their excellent care and compassionate service.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 12:00 Noon at Walker Mortuary, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah. Family and friends may call at the mortuary from 10:45-11:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.

The Fairy Maiden

An Icelander and his grandson
are by the sea one day,
talking as they go along,
telling stories on the way.

“Grandpa,” the boy said earnestly,
“tell me about the fairy maid,
and how she lit her light for you
at Black Rock on Cliff’s Isle, to aid.”

“Ah, yes, my son, I rowed my boat
far out to sea when it was calm,
out to the cleft where there were fish
and earned a blister on each palm.

“Out where the yellow cod swim by,
the halibut slide far below.
It was food waiting to be had,
but soon the wind began to blow.

“The day grew dark. The sky went black.
and rain clouds piled in the sky.
It was a whirlpool of doubt.
I thought that I was going to die.

“I saw a light shine in the dark
and rowed to it with all my might.
The boat was carried on the crests.
Black Rock was darker than the night.

“Yet I could see where Black Rock was.
I saw a light upon the shore.
There was a maiden holding it,
where nobody had been before.


“The torrent failed. The sea grew calm.
I passed the skerries to the bay
and pulled my boat upon the shore,
then sought the light without delay,

“but it was gone. The maiden, too–
the Fairy Maiden of the sea,
who steered me from the raging depths
and bore me through eternity.”


D. Gary Christian
Santa Clara, Utah
June 13, 2007

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

EYJÓLFUR GUÐMUNDSSON

Eyjolfur was born 11 October 1829 at Illugastadir, Tjorn i Vatnsnesi, Vestur Hunavatn. His parents are Gudmundur Ketilsson, born 1791, died 24 June 1859; and Audbjorg Joelsdottir, born 26 January 1802, died 14 December 1884. Eyjolfur married Valgerdur Bjornsdottir 12 November 1853. Valgerdur was born 9 September 1828. Her parents are Bjorn Sveinsson, born 9 March 1795, died 25 November 1859; and Rosa Bjarnadottir, born in 1806.

Eyjolfur and Valgerdur had twelve children: Ogn Eyjolfsdottir 1854-1940, Eygerdur Eyjolfsdottir 1855-1885, Audrosa Eyjolfsdottir 1857-1941, Sigurbjort Eyjolfsdottir 1858-1859, Gudmunda Minnie Eyjolfsdottir 1859-1929, Bjarnlaug Eyjolfsdottir Anderson 1861-1942, Gudmundur Eyjolfsson Jameson 1862-1955, Frodi Eyjolfsson 1864-1864, Ketill Eyjolfsson (Kelly Jameson) 1865-1917, Numi Eyjolfsson 1867-1867, Eyjolfur Eyjolfsson 1870-1934 and Bjorn Eyjolfsson 1872-1884.

Eyjolfur was a farmer by trade, but he had other interests. He gathered eiderdown; he hunted and trapped gray foxes and seals and sold their hides. He was awarded a medal by the king of Denmark for improving the living standards of the people. This award is still in the little church near his old home in Eyjatbakki. He had his own personal seal or stamp, given him by the king of Denmark.

Eyjolfur and Valgerdur joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The missionaries were Elders Haldor Jonsson and Einar Eiriksson. In 1883 Eyjolfur and Valgedur and eight of their children emigrated to Spanish Fork, Utah via North Dakota and Helena, Montana. Their son Bjorn drowned in quicksand near the Red River in Pembina, North Dakota in 1884.

Eyjolfur was an unusually intelligent and talented person. He helped many of the Icelandic people in Spanish Fork with medical problems. He was not licensed to practice medicine, so he was not accepted by the American Medical Association. He was a talented singer and wrote poetry in Iceland as well as in Utah. He was also a good wood carver and carpenter.

Eyjolfur and Valgerdur became disenchanted with the Mormon Church. They and all of their children, except Audrosa, left the Church and joined the local Lutheran congregation. Eyjolfur was a deeply religious person. He was kind and compassionate, and people who knew him loved and appreciated him. He was a student of the Bible and its teachings.

Eyjolfur died 19 September 1913 and is buried in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery. He went by Eyjolfur Jameson in Spanish Fork. He is number 125 in Icelanders of Utah.