Larsen 65th

LARSEN 65th

Eskild and Iris Larsen celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with church members and family, including six who traveled from Denmark for the occasion and their son David, who traveled from California for the occasion. The dinner reception took place at the Valley View East Wenatchee (Wash.) Church on July 12, 2015, and included many authentic Danish desserts.

Eskild and Iris Mary Schjødt Jensen met at the Danish Junior College, Vejlefjordskolen. From there they both went on to Skodsborg Badensanatorium, studying an additional five years to be physical therapists. They married on July 11, 1950.

While still in their 20s, the couple decided they wanted to go to the United States to live. They traveled across the Atlantic Ocean on the RMS Queen Elizabeth, a five-day trip. They were very excited to see the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor as they arrived on the American shore.

Eskild had an uncle in Battle Creek, Mich., and had a job lined up there. But Michigan was not the Larsens’ desired destination. Hearing that physical therapists were needed in California, the Larsens continued west, only to be disappointed upon their arrival. There was no job.

But a health doctor in California helped Eskild get a job at Kaiser near the Santa Monica coast, where he worked for five or 10 years before setting up an office near Beverly Hills with two partners. One of these partners, who had good connections in the Jewish community of Los Angeles, found clients, while Eskild and the other partner provided care.

Meanwhile, Iris provided physical therapy and massage services in private homes.

Eskild continued in this business until he retired at age 62. They moved to Wenatchee, Wash., in 2009.

Their family includes David and Kathy Larsen of California; Jack and Shauna Larsen of East Wenatchee, Wash.; Anne Larsen of Wenatchee, Wash.; and 3 grandchildren.