Alma Jensen Thorsøe was born on St. Thomas December 11, 1910, before the Danish rule was passed to the states in 1917. She was one of three children of Jens Christian Carl Jensen and Lillian Raimer Jensen.
During the First World War, her father relocated the family to Denmark where her mother died. After completing her education there, Alma was employed as a legal secretary. She loved the world of commerce and was overjoyed that when she returned to St. Thomas she was permitted to offer of employment in the offices of the representative of a well known firm. Eventually, she established and operated the Scandinavian Silver Center before she and her husband, Holger, began their own tobacco and gift shop, Den Dansk Butik, in International Plaza. Alma was avant garde because this was a time when few women had careers in business. Alma also claimed that the first woman on St. Thomas to have a driver's license. She enjoyed telling the story of how one day in Tutu she was able to get the chauffeur out of the car on some mechanical pretext and then proceeded to drive herself and he sister Grace back into town. She would laugh as she added that the story got back to town before she did.
Alma loved her native St. Thomas while holding a special place in her heart for Denmark and she was dedicated to maintaining close ties between the two. She was the First President of the Friends of Denmark Society and was hostess to many guests in their annual visitors' exchange program.
When Holger died in 1989, she established the Danish Cemetery Restoration Fund in his loving memory and the success of these efforts can be seen in the beautifully restored and maintained cemeteries on both St. Thomas and St. Croix. All through the years, she entertained frequent visitors from the United States, Europe and especially Denmark, and was a bridge between these cultures and the Virgin Islands.
Alma also loved her family and her friends very deeply and gave us all memories to be cherished forever of social gatherings on her cool, breezy, wind-swept porch overlooking the harbor of Charlotte Amalie.
Alma Jensen Thorsøe passed away in her home on the morning of Thursday, November 30th, 2000.
Dear Alma, Aunt Alma, Tante Alma -Your memory and your love will be treasured and held close in our hearts forever, sustaining us and helping us to continue on and grow. Thank you Alma, Aunt Alma, Tante Alma.