The Bungard Family of Denmark

By Wallace F. Gray

The Bungard Family of Denmark is associated with the Madsen Family of Vejle, Denmark due to the marriage of my grandfather Niels Nelsen Bungard to Grandmother Bertha Kristine Madsine Madsen. Both were born in Denmark and both came to the United States, presumably with their parents.

Bertha's family first went to Hutchinson, Minnesota, in June 1885. Whether Bertha and her family followed Bertha's brother, Mads Madsen, or they came together is unknown. (See Mads Madsen for his biography.) Bertha moved to Tacoma, Washington, in 1889 or 1890 where she met Niels. They were married on October 31, 1891 in Tacoma.

It is unknown when Niels came to America, presumably by himself. The couple went to a homestead in Rainier, Thurston, Washington in February 1892, where they had their two children, Howard, my uncle, and Helen, my mother. Bertha and Howard both died at the homestead in 1914. In 1921 Helen followed her father to Santa Monica, Californa. She had met my father Firman C. Gray on the ship they both took to the United States, and they were married on Christmas Day, 1923, in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California.

Niels' parents, Anders Nielsen Bundgard and Leene (Helena) Jeppesen, were born in Olholm, Langskov, Vejle, Denmark and Ostergesten, Gesten Ribe, Denmark, respectively, and they were married in Gesten. Anders died in Ostergesten but Leene died in the state of Washington (based on the place her photograph was taken in her old age.)

Leene's parents, Jeppe Hansen and Kirstine Clausen, were born in Oster Gesten and Gejsing, Anst., Ribe, Denmark, respectively and were married in Gesten.

Biographies and family information:

Bungard, Helen Esther #G3 (my mother) (Photo)
Bungard, Howard Luther (my uncle) (Photo of Helen and Howard)
Bundgard, Anders Nielsen and Jeppesen, Leene #G12, G13 (my great grandparents) (Photo)
Bundgard, Niels Nelsen and Madsen, Bertha Kristine Madsine #G6 and G7 (my grandparents) (Photo)
Bundgaard, Niels Nielsen and Larsen, Else #G24 and G25 (my second great grandparents)
Hansen, Jeppe and Clausen, Kirstine #G26, G27 (my second great grandparents)
Clausen, Claus #G54 and Pedersen, Lene #G55* (listed on daughter's page)
Iversen, Hans #G52 and Jeppesen, Ester #G53* (listed on son's page) (my third great grandparents)

Information sources listed in the biographies.

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The Madsen Family of Vejle, Denmark