Mrs Lena Jakobsen Rasmussen (née Solvang)

Mrs Rasmus Rasmussen (Lena Jakobsen Solvang) 1, 62, was born in Haugesund, Stavanger County, Norway. At a young age she was married to Rasmus Rasmussen and the couple had four children: Ole Kristian, Bertha Kristine, Johannes, and Elizabeth Wilhelmine 2. The family emigrated to South Dakota [?] but when Lena was widowed she returned to Norway with her widowed daughter Elizabeth Larsen.

In 1912 Lena was set to visit her daughter Bertha Berg in South Dakota. She boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third class passenger (ticket number 65305, £8, 2s, 3d) and was travelling with Bernt Johannes Johannessen.

On the night of the sinking Bernt Johannessen alerted Mrs Rasmussen to the danger, but she was reluctant to leave her valuables in the cabin. Bernt managed to persude her to come with him and togther they reached the boat deck where Bernt saw that Lena was safe beside a boat before he left her to return to his roommates. It is likely that Mrs Rasmussen returned to her cabin for her valuables.

She lost her life in the disaster and her body, if recovered, was never identified.

Notes
1. Lena is often listed as just "Lena Jakobsen Solvang"
2. The Rasmussen family background is vague. According to the lawsuit filed after the disaster Lena had three children: Bertha Berg of Centreville, South Dakota; Mike Dahl of Reedley, California; and Mrs B. Norman of North Bend, Oregon.

References
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
Marriages, births, deaths and injuries that have occurred on board during the voyage (PRO London, BT 100/259-260)
Per Kristian Sebak (1998) Titanic: 31 Norske Skjebner, Genesis Publishers

Acknowledgements
Per Kristian Sebak, Norway