A little girl who had no time to play with dolls, but worked for other people from the age of 9, grew up to be a beloved citizen of her 
community and state. Mother of eight college-trained, useful citizens and American Mother of 1955 – Lavina Christensen Fugal. She was born September 9, 1897 in Pleasant Grove, Utah, daughter of Danish immigrants Jens and Anna Christensen.
Education was an ideal to the growing Lavina. By working and carefully saving she was able to attend summer school sessions at Brigham Young University. Finally, with her crisp new teaching certificate, she set out to teach in the county schools. This was interesting and challenging for a while until a young Pleasant Grove man, also of Danish descent, asked her to marry him. So Lavina Christensen became Mrs. Jens Fugal.
Jens was a farmer with a heating , plumbing and electrical business. In agricultural Utah, the family was involved in Farm Bureau, county and state fair activities, Lavina served right along side her husband. In 1938 the State Farm Bureau Federation selected Lavina to receive its Distinguished Service Award. Her citation read, “This woman whose living experiences are found on the page of agricultural history, has dedicated her life to one of service – service to her home and family, her community and her Church.”
As the family increased there was more strain on the family budget, but the spirit of love and sharing carried them through. Lavina’s passion for education demanded that each child have a college education and all eight did – with Lavina picking fruit, raising chickens and selling flowers to make it possible.
Lavina’s child rearing has brought her satisfactions as her flower-growing brought her ribbons. Her community interests grew out of her concern for her family. From there her services extended to county and state. She helped young mothers with problems of their new lives. She helped them with their children. She often went out in the dead of night to nurse a sick child while the mother got some time for rest. She taught them, too, how to make their homes more attractive, how to beautify their gardens with flowers and bring the beauty of the blossoms into their homes.
From the hardships and sacrifices of her earlier years Lavina Fugal became a victim of arthritis. But this did not dampen her spirit nor halt her activities. She got around faster than most normal people on her wooden crutches. When she came to New York to be honored as the National Mother, Abilities, Inc. presented her with a pair of light, aluminum crutches. Lavina beamed and exclaimed, “Why I can run with these.” She was then 75.
There was rejoicing in Utah when the honored Mother of the state was chosen honored Mother of the nation. When she returned from the East and her visit to the Nation’s capital and the White House, where the Preisdent of the United States greeted her, it seemed to her that the whole state was there to meet her at the airport – the Governor, mayors of many towns, the President of the Mormon Church, Dr. David O. McKay, and thousands of people. Children scattered flowers before her and a band played for her all the way to her home.
Still living in the town where she was born, having given her whole life to the Mormon Church, to her agricultural community, to the people of Utah and to her family, she is greatly respected and loved across the country.
(The previous information was taken from a publication prepared by the American Mothers, In. National Board: “Mothers of Men: A Twenty-five Year History of the American Mothers of the Year,” by Lillian D. Poling, 1959, Kurt H. Vole, Inc., Bridgeport, Connecticut, p. 54)
To learn more about Lavina Christensen Fugal, go to the Utah Division of State History, History to Go.