Kirsten Marie Hejbol Jensen Miller

Kirsten Marie Hejbol Jensen Miller passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on September 13th, 2026, after a brief illness. She died in Denver, Colorado, where she had lived for 30 years.

Originally from Denmark, Kirsten had been a resident of the US since 1956, when she met her husband-to-be, Donald Gray Miller Jr, in New Haven, Connecticut. The couple spent the first years of their marriage in Europe, following Don’s singing career, then settled in Syracuse, New York, and the community around Syracuse University, where Don was a music professor. They had four children between 1958 and 1965 and Kirsten dedicated herself to raising and making a home for them. Having grown up in her mother’s bakery in Esbjerg, Denmark (“Nina’s Home Bakery”), Kirsten made all the household bread and became locally famous for her Danish holiday treats, which regularly drew substantial bids at the annual PBS fundraiser. That heritage and talent found full expression in the 90’s, when Kirsten baked professionally as the pastry chef at The Inn at Woodstock Hill in Woodstock, Connecticut. Until the age of 90, Kirsten was baking “Friday scones” for the neighbors in her Cherry Creek condo. Kirsten was a pianist, having studied at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen, and made a steady career of teaching over many decades in Syracuse and later, Denver. “Miss Jensen” was much beloved of her numerous students.

Kirsten Marie Jensen was born on June 29th, 1934, on the family farm in the village of Rousthoje, Denmark, to Niels Roust Jensen, farmer, and Christine Oline Petersen Jensen, primary school teacher. Kirsten was the second of their two children. The Depression soon drove the family to the nearby city of Esbjerg, on Denmark’s west coast. Christine, called Nina, opened her bakery and Niels took work in a portside warehouse. Kirsten’s musical talent led her to Copenhagen after secondary school, where she joined her brother, Bent Hejbol Jensen, who was studying law. Their tiny, 17th century, cold-water student flat was the backdrop for many family stories. Wanderlust eventually brought Kirsten to America, but there were regular visits home to Denmark over the years. All four of her children had moved West by the late 90’s, and Kirsten followed them. Living in Denver, she was able to be “mormor” (grandmother) to her daughters’ children, a daily presence and blessing in their lives.

Though she was a citizen of the world, Kirsten did eventually claim her citizenship in America in order to vote in the 2008 presidential election.

Kirsten is survived by her children and their spouses, Nina Alice Miller and Glenn Webb (of Arvada); Donald Gray Miller, III, and Kristen Mahlis (of Chico, California); Suvi Hejbol Miller and Joe Morales (of Denver); and Niels Hejbol Miller and Rachel DiNitto (of Eugene, Oregon); her grandchildren, Kendra Hejbol Miller Scheuerlein, Eleni Mahlis Miller, Ingelise Mahlis Miller, Nikolai Christian Arnold, Sofia Oline Arnold, and Elias Ray Miller; and her nephews, Jan Hejbol Jensen, Lau Hejbol Jensen and Ole Hejbol Jensen.

A memorial service honoring Kirsten’s life and passing will be held at Augustana Lutheran Church in Denver, where Kirsten had been a member for 30 years.

Details:

• 10:30 AM on Friday, November 13th
• Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 East Alameda Avenue, Denver, Colorado
• In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Augustana Lutheran
• A livestream will be made available to those who cannot attend in person. Please write to request the link at snikoman@msn.com