Ethel Melville Sorensen, 94, who helped her late husband, Horace A. Sorensen, found Lagoon's Pioneer Village, died at her home in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 22, 1995.
Mr. Sorensen, who died May 2, 1977, started the Sons of the Utah Pioneers Museum in 1950 by furnishing his barn with antiques traded in at his Sugar House furniture store, South East Furniture Co.Later, Mr. Sorensen purchased historic Rockport homes to preserve them from the construction of the Wanship Dam. Sorensen moved the log buildings to his Salt Lake estate, transforming the museum into a village. Sorensen with the help of his wife continued to furnish the homes with pioneer-era antiques.
In 1953, the Sorensens deeded the entire village to the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. The museum was later bought by Lagoon Corp. and moved to Farmington. This sale helped finance the building of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers headquarters in Canyon Rim in Salt Lake County.
The Sorensens were also involved in the effort to change the old state prison into Sugarhouse Park.
Mrs. Sorensen, who at age 88 attended a study abroad program at Cambridge University, was also a member of the American Association of University Women, the Utah Historical Society, the Heritage Foundation and Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mrs. Sorensen is survived her two sons and two daughters and by her two sisters.
A memorial service was conducted earlier today at the Monument Park 17th Ward LDS chapel.