Askov Christoffersen Family
Denmark
askov and cora
Askov and Cora  (Hedegaard) Christofferen on their 50th Anniversary.
Photo courtesy Kent Christoffersen

Askov Thomas Christoffersen
b. 10 June 1916 Odby, Refs, Thisted, Denmark        [tombstone Odby Church]
d.  1 November 2009 Søndbjerg, Denmark [tombstone Odby Church]

m. Chora Petrea Hedegaard 12 Jul 1942 Søndbjerg Kirke
b. 26 Nov 1922 Søndbjerg, Refs herred, Thisted amt., Denmark
d. 29 Jul 2017 Denmark
buried: 3 Aug 2017
her father: Søren Hedegaard Christensen  b. 19 Mar 1887 Søndbjerg, Denmark
her mother: Karen Marie Petersen b.  Denmark

his father: Mads Peder Eliassen Christoffersen
his mother: Mette Kristin Nielsen of Odby sogn

Children
Steen Hedegaard Christoffersen
 b. 5 Jun 1943 Enggaard, Søndbjerg, Refs herred, Thisted, Den.
bapt. 27 Jun 1943 Søndbjerg Kirke,
d. Denmark 1m. Jonna Brodersen in Fredrekssund
2m Birgit ?
Kent Hedegaard Christoffersen b. 29 Aug 1949 Hvidbjerg, Refs Herred, Thisted, Denmark
bapt. 2 Sept 1949 Søndbjerg kirke, Thisted, Den
 d. 1m. Elizabeth Studsgaard Sørensen 1972
2m. Lone Bergholdt Sorensen 1995 in Holstebro, Den.
Jennie Hedegaard Christoffersen
 b. 1954 Hvidbjerg, Denmark d. m. Niels Jorgen Nielsen (born in Hvidbjerg)
 

Askov Christoffersen was born and raised in the area around Ydby, Thisted amt. on the Jutland Peninsula of Denmark.   He was a farmer who raised a variety of crops but mostly wheat.   He also had a building where he raised pigs and another where he had his high priced horses.    The farm had a sweeping view of the Norre sound which led to the North Sea. 

Cora and Askov on farm
Chora and Askov in front of their farm.
photo by Elroy Christenson 1985

1922 Nov 22 - Chora Petrea Hedegaard  is born in Søndbjerg sogn, Refs Herred. Her parents Søren Hedegaard  and wife Karen Marie Pedersen of Søndbjerg. She was apparently confirmed on 27 March 1939

Chora Hedegaard birth 1922
danishfamilysearch.com/sogn1774/churchbook/source23665/opslag4793260


1942, July 12 - Askov Thomas Christoffersen born 10 June 1916 Odby parish marries Chora Petrea Hedegaard in Søndbjerg. They are betrothed 19 June 1942.

Askov and Chora marriage 1942
danishfamilysearch.com/  -   Søndbjerg kirke records of betrothels  1942

1942-45 - Askov was part of the Danish Resistance during WWII.   They worked against the occupation of the Germans while trying to appear as normal citizens. Members were going out to blow up railway lines that ran from Germany to Norway.  Askov became a member by following some of his fellow villagers to a pick up a load of weapons dropped by parachutes by the British at night.  They caught Askov because he followed them, he demanded that he be taken into the movement or shoot him.  He became a member. They listened to the shortwave radio for coded messages that told them when the weapons drop by parashute would happen.  The Germans never discovered the Movement in the area although they raided many farms and sites.  Askov kept some weapons in his barn for a few days before they were moved to a safer location.  In August of 1943 the Danish Navy sunk all its ships for fear that they would be taken by the Germans. 
                       [Kent Christoffersen 5/28/08]

Danish Resistance
Danish Freedom Fighters  "Uglev Frihedskempere" 1945, (click for larger version)
photo courtesy of Anders Gade 2008
(top left to rt)Valdmar Roesgard, Poul Olsen, Kristian Lykke, Carl Age Riis, Laurits Mikkelsen. Poul Bager Hedegard, Askov Christoffersen, Martin Gade, Ghr Riis (middle row)Møller Sondergard, Ivar Bonde, Harvig Pedelsen, Koud Bonde, Kr. Møller, Kr. Odegard, Arnold Kristensen, (frt.row) Holger Riis, Gørge Nielsen, Peter I Jensen, Svend Lykke, H. C. Toft, Ejar Krabbe, Karl Lase, Peter Odgard, Johannes Ilkjar, Niels Bager Hedegard

After the war Askov goes back to farming does well selling his horses for thousands of dollars each.   His children go off to form careers of their own.
askov with colt

Askov and his young prize winning colt in 1985.
photo Elroy Christenson, 1985

1975-85 - Cora and Askov brought in tourists to have a farm stay like a bed and breakfast.  They had as many as 20 family members at a time.  They were mostly families from Germany.  They would stay for a week or two with Chora cooking elaborate breakfasts along with as many as five meals a day. 


about 1996 - Askov and Chora sell the farm and move to an apartment.

2009- Askov dies and is buried in the Odby Church cemetery. 
Askov's stone Odby

Kent and Lone button
Lone and Kent Christoffersen in Seattle, May 2008
photo Elroy Christenson 2008

Kent Christoffersen worked as an engineer for a while on electricity generating wind mills projects that are presently scattered around Denmark and the world.   He is presently working for a governmental agency that handles the promotion of new business ventures in Denmark.   He does computer engineering. 

2017 - Chora Hedegaard Christoffersen dies in a retirement center near Søndbjerg after a protracted decline with dementia.  She always had a wonderful smile on her face. 

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