George Niels Clemensen, the first son of Rasmus Peter Clemensen and Lulu Cork was boorn May 4, 1909 on their farm three miles southwest of Oakdale, Nebraska.
In 1915 he started school in Oakdale under Miss Mabel Morris. As as he was old enough, he helped his father in the fields. He learned to operate horse drawn farm equipment and to take care of farm animals. In 1919 the family moved into town for easier access to school and his father continued farming, driving back and forth each day. George's father died April 19, 1923. That summer he and his brother, Ronald, using the team and wagon, hauled gravel for the highway between Oakdale and Tilden. In high school George earned letters in basketball and track, granduating in 1928. The followng year he started work for J. I. Stringfellow in the filling station remaining there for 14 years. During the time he was active in community affairs. Florence Lydia Thornton was born in Neligh, Nebraska on May 29, 1911, the oldest child of Guy and Mattie Thornton. Her sisters were Gretchen, Janis and Phyllis, and her brother, Ben. She graduated in 1928 and spent the next year at Morningside College in Sioux City then to the University of Nebraska School of Nursing.
Florence Thornton and George Clemensen were married August 16, 1934 in Fullerton, Nebraska. For the next eight years they lived in Oakdale. To augment George's salary, they raised live stock and poultry for personal use and for income. On July 3, 1936, twin daughters, Rochelle and Donnelle were born. Lowell Jeffrey was born on March 10, 1939.
In 1942, George went to Wyoming to work on building the new air base. After that, the family moved on to work in California. Peter Michael was born in 1944. George and Florence built a new home in the San Fernando Valley in 1952. Baby Carolyn was born February 16, 1950. George became an Assistant Vice President of Crocker National Bank and Florence started work for the Los Angeles City Schools.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007