Nielsen, Dorthea Katrine (1898–1953)

By Godfrey K. Sang

Godfrey K. Sang is a historical researcher and writer with an interest in Adventist history. He holds a B.A. in History from the University of Eastern Africa Baraton and a number of qualifications from other universities. He is a published author. He is the co-author of the book On the Wings of a Sparrow: How the Seventh-day Adventist Church Came to Western Kenya.

First Published: October 10, 2024

Audio

Dorthea or “Thea” Nielsen was a Danish missionary nurse and instructor who served in Kenya at the Kendu Mission Hospital before moving to Nyanchwa.

Early Life

Dorthea Katrine Nielsen was born on December 15, 1898, in Galten, Sønder Galten, Framlev, Århus, Denmark. She was the second daughter of Anders Nielsen (b. 1861) and Kirsten Jensen (b. 1869). She was one of three children born to the couple, the others being Karen Nielsen (1896-1990) and Niels Balle Nielsen (1899-1968).¹ Her parents were farmers. After her early education, she joined the Skodsborg Sanatorium and followed after her sister to become a nurse. Her younger brother later became a missionary.

Missionary Service

In 1929 Thea Nielsen accepted the call to become a missionary and moved to Africa.² She became a licensed missionary at the Kendu Mission Hospital where she served as a staff nurse, alongside her sister. The Kendu Mission Hospital was owned and managed by the Kenya Mission Field.³ Other nurses working alongside her were Carentze Olsen and Conrad Hyde.⁴ Other than caring for patients at the hospital, Thea Nielsen took time visiting the outlying villages to check on patients who had not come or were not able to come to the hospital.

Moving to Nyanchwa

Thea remained at Kendu until 1947 when she moved to Nyanchwa in Kisii town, to take charge of the girls’ school there.⁵ There were 121 workers under the Nyanchwa Mission, out of which 62 were African teachers when she first transferred there.⁶ In 1950 she left Nyanchwa for Karura, near Nairobi. She was replaced by Joy Teixeira, a graduate of Helderberg College.⁷ The Karura Mission Station, situated six miles from Nairobi city, became the home of Thea Nielsen until 1953.⁸ She was primarily responsible for the girls’ school there.

Death and Legacy

Thea Nielsen returned to Denmark in 1953 on furlough. On March 1, 1953, she left Nairobi on home furlough. She was involved in a tragic lorry accident on November 9, 1953, and lost her life.⁹ At the time of her death, she was expected shortly to return to Africa, this time to serve at the Bethel Training College in South Africa.¹⁰

The accident that took the life of Nielsen robbed Africa of a dedicated missionary worker who had done so much for the continent, particularly for the vulnerable children.¹¹ Nielsen worked through difficult times in remote Africa. She remained unmarried and without any children, losing her life at 55.

Known for her courage and dedication, she braved difficult circumstances through great personal sacrifices to ensure that even the most isolated individuals received the care they needed. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched (and saved) and the enduring improvements she brought to healthcare in the regions she served and the welfare of the girl-child. Thea Nielsen’s life exemplified selfless service and total commitment to the well-being of others, never even finding time to start a family. She was survived by her older sister Karen and her younger brother Niels.

Sources

Clifford, F. G. “The Passing of Miss Nielsen.” Southern Africa Division Outlook, December 1, 1953.

Familysearch.org, accessed May 29, 2024.

Hackman, E. F. “God’s True Church.” Southern Africa Division Outlook, March 1, 1950.

Nelson, W. E. “What Is That in Thine Hand?.” Southern Africa Division Outlook, April 1, 1953.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Various years, https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Notes

Denmark census records accessed May 29, 2024, from Familysearch.org.↩
F. G. Clifford, “The Passing of Miss Nielsen,” Southern Africa Division Outlook, December 1, 1953, 8.↩
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1930), 214.↩
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1934), 290.↩
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1946), 166.↩
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1947), 162.↩
E. F. Hackman, “God’s True Church,” Southern Africa Division Outlook, March 1, 1950, 2.↩
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1953), 180.↩
W. E. Nelson, “What is that in Thine Hand?,” Southern Africa Division Outlook, April 1, 1953, 8.↩
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1954), 242.↩
Clifford, 8.↩