Twin Falls County ID Archives Biographies.....Mogensen, Frank Warren May 17, 1923 - January 13, 1994 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Phyllis Mogensen Kochert pkochert@juno.com May 24, 2005, 12:54 pm Author: Phyllis Mogensen Kochert FRANK W. MOGENSEN A PIONEER PORTRAIT Compiled for Twin Falls, Idaho, Centennial, 2004 by Phyllis Mogensen Kochert Gooding, Idaho When someone requests my maiden name, I reply “Mogensen.” Invariably, the next question is, “Oh, I knew Frank Mogensen; are you related to him?” If you weren’t in Boy Scouts, a member of the Twin Falls First United Methodist Church, or one of those lucky people that the friendly Idaho State Police Patrolman pulled over, then perhaps you weren’t fortunate enough to have made his acquaintance. In either case, here is his story. Frank Warren Mogensen, the First-born Son Frank Warren Mogensen was the first of five children born to Carl Christian and Virgil Beeman Mogensen. His life began May 17, 1923, according to his mother’s diary, “in Beamer’s small house on Alworth’s 80-acre farm” in Filer, Idaho. On January 9, 1928, the Mogensen family moved for the last time to their farm north of Filer, just south of Maroa School. By that time, Frank had a sister, Mary, and two brothers, John and Charles. After surviving whooping cough and chicken pox in 1929, Frank started school under Mrs. F. Neuman. His 7th and 8th grade teacher was Mr. E.H. Ragland, who became a dear family friend. Infantryman Frank Mogensen Eighteen months after graduating from Filer High School in May 1941, Frank Mogensen left for the US Army November 27, 1942. He was assigned to Company C, 184th Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He toured the South Pacific Theater for three years as a scout and sniper and was wounded several times while fighting in the Pacific Campaign. On his last day in action, Frank received six skull fractures when a building blew up, landing him in a New Guinea hospital for at least two months. Frank Mogensen was decorated with the Purple Heart, the Philippine ribbon, the good conduct ribbon, and the American defense ribbon. He was honorably discharged in March 1945, never having had a furlough. 53 Years as a Boy Scout In an interview with The Times News in 1991, Frank said, “I got into Scouting when I was 15, and it really appealed to me. I was just a farm kid, and it became almost my whole life then.” This was during the Depression, and his parents were reluctant to let him join because they needed him on the farm. He became an Eagle Scout in Troop 30 in Filer in 1940, just two years after joining. Scouting had other than the obvious benefits. Frank found his bride-to-be when she brought her brother to a Scout meeting. His scouting skills prepared him to escape menial Army tasks such as KP duty; instead, he trained 40-year-old men in first aid and knot tying. When he returned from military duty in 1945, he reorganized the former troop and became the Scoutmaster. After marrying and moving to Twin Falls, in 1949 Frank was convinced by the First United Methodist Church to take over as the assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 67. He moved up to Scoutmaster in 1952 and held that position until retiring in 1991. Betty Mogensen was an active Campfire Girls leader, and their three daughters each participated. Often, Frank Mogensen was the leader and parents all rolled into one on Scout trips. As he told a Times News reporter, “Once we were camping in the South Hills, and I had to take one boy out after he almost cut his foot off with an axe. When I got back, there was another boy with a broken arm.” After his father’s death, his mother remained a sustaining contributor to the Snake River Area Boy Scout Council. In 1978 she donated a portion of her Falls Avenue East farm for the Scouts to build a new Council service center. Ultimately, the entire 40 acres was bequeathed to the Snake River Area Council. Frank realized that if the farm couldn’t remain a family operation, at least it would be maintained in a manner that would benefit the Snake River Area Council scouts “to develop their physical fitness, mental awareness, and moral strength.” Scouting’s Silver Beaver award was presented to Frank Mogensen in 1961. In May 1970 he became the first scoutmaster in Idaho to be given the Distinguished Eagle Scout award. Through all this, he coached over 100 Boy Scouts to Eagle Scout status during his 53 years as a Scout and Scoutmaster. Some 200 folks honored Frank Mogensen at a testimonial dinner in 1992 at the Twin Falls First United Methodist Church. Many of the 2,000 Scouts he led, some from other states, attended. Former members of Troop 67 sent letters from around the United States. Mogensen’s leadership enabled them to become doctors, college professors, CEOs and other hard-working men. Frank Mogensen, Respected Idaho State Police Patrolman His career with Idaho State Police began 5/20/1957 as a member of the Hollister roving port of entry. Mogensen declined a few promotions in order to remain in the same Magic Valley patrol district in which he began. For his outstanding service, in 1968 he won the Idaho Public Employees Association employee of the year award. On December 1, 1985, he retired from the department. For obvious reasons, I had a great deal of respect for my Uncle Frank. In the 1970s, when I was employed by the Clerk of the District Court, Jerome County, part of my job was to accept traffic fine payments. I made a point of reading the name of the law enforcement officer who issued the citation. Invariably, if Frank Mogensen was the citing officer, the recipient of the traffic ticket would comment on his professionalism and caring nature. One man even told me he thanked Patrolman Mogensen for stopping him for excessive speed. Husband and Father After his discharge from the US Army, he returned to Filer and on November 18 he and his high school sweetheart, Betty Harshbarger, were married at the home of Rev. E.L. White.They farmed the 80-acre Finley Smith farm with Frank’s parents. Not only was Frank the first child born to his parents, but also he and Betty gave them their first grandchild on September 16, 1946—Mellynee Marie, followed by Nancy Lucille on September 28, 1947 and Joan Carol on November 10, 1951. Betty and Frank were best friends and sweethearts. It was noted over the years that she sat right next to him on the front seat of the car. Frank was a busy man, as evidenced by the volume of his volunteer work, but his family supported his efforts. Betty served as a president of the Twin Falls chapter of the Red Cross. She recruited Frank, and he became the chapter’s only certified first aid instructor. While Frank led the scouts, both were active in the Twin Falls YMCA-YWCA and the whole family participated in preparing and serving annual Chuck Wagon Breakfasts. Betty also served on the board of directors for the Twin Falls Idaho Power Park for three years. Flowers, Vegetables, a Green Thumb, and More You should have seen his yard and garden on Jefferson Street, where he and his family lived for over 40 years. If you did, you know exactly what I feel. And if you did not, I’ll try to paint a picture with words. Besides helping boys grow into fine men, he meticulously tended his beautiful flowers, vegetables, fruits and lawn. He planted a beautiful maple tree in the front yard in memory of Betty, who passed away in 1984. A couple of years later he noticed a concrete-surrounded island near Addison Avenue West and Jefferson Street. Frank Mogensen transformed it into a garden. He could also be seen humbly caring for the flowers at the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Twin Falls City Park. To demonstrate how painstakingly Frank was with his gardening, his daughter Nancy related that he used a yardstick and tweezers to place seeds “just so” in the perfectly straight furrows of his backyard garden. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t live up to his superior gardening standards. Maybe I need to buy a yardstick and tweezers first. American Red Cross Volunteer and Donor Not many people can say they donated over 16 gallons of blood to the American Red Cross program. As Frank once said, “I feel it’s only right to give back some blood, after I received so much during the War.” In addition to this accomplishment, Frank served for many years as a volunteer first aid instructor. He taught first aid classes to local and Boise police agencies and the Idaho State University police academy. In 1965 The National Red Cross selected him as an instructor-trainer for the Western Region of the National Aquatics School. Commander of American Legion, Twin Falls Post 17 A lifetime member of the American Legion, Frank Mogensen was its commander for 11 years and served five years as adjutant. Frank and the Natural World After retirement from the State Police, Frank was able to indulge. He had always had a fondness for Bald Eagles (imagine that). He spent the better part of one summer observing a pair of eagles near the Perrine Bridge. He made meticulous notes and detailed drawings of their comings & goings, feeding schedules, and even documented the progress of their fledgling eaglets. He would also often go down to the Blue Lakes golf course and observe its pair of eagles. Once while there, on towards dusk, he looked up and to his surprise, saw a mountain lion ambling towards him. The lion sensed that Frank was one of the good guys, in tune with nature, and after glancing at Frank, calmly strolled away. Presented by John Gilney, One Lucky Scout: The Trustworthy Leader Among people who influence our lives there are leaders who shape who we are, how we think, what we strive to be. They inspire confidence – what is possible – what is decent - what is right. For me, Frank Mogensen is such a leader. Through his example, Frank exemplifies the truth and strength of Scouting’s law and motto. Like the stars a scout might gaze upon during a campout, these values stand the test of time – always shine brightly – are always there to point the way. No matter what hardship, Frank always had a smile that would brighten our hearts. Frank showed the strength that comes from commitment to high ideals and instilled pride in what it meant to be a scout. With his respect and trust for us that went beyond what was usually deserved, he inspired feelings of self- worth and value that continue to enrich our lifes years after our younger scouting were over. To be so unselfishly provided a gift is a tribute to the power of scouting, what is possible in the human soul, and the greatness of our scoutmaster, Frank Mogensen. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/twinfalls/bios/mogensen3gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/idfiles/ File size: 11.2 Kb