Item Detail
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Olsen, Loretta Smith
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1877-1963
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MSS 8
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Biography
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Loretta Smith Olsen was born August 24, 1877 as the thirteenth child of Jonathan Smith and Nancy Jane Taylor in Harrisville, Weber County, Utah. August 1, 1881, she and her family moved to Weston, Idaho, where they lived on a farm. On January 24, 1895, Loretta married her brother-in-law's brother, Joseph Olsen, in the Logan Temple. At first, they lived in Weston, though they moved back into Loretta's father's home after Joseph had an accident and cut his foot severely. A year after having their second child, they moved into their own home, where they had six sons, four of which grew to adulthood. Before her seventh child was born, Loretta's sister died, leaving behind her husband and a large group of boys. Loretta took three of the small boys in, and she cared thereafter for a family of eight children, six of the boys being younger than nine. Loretta also served as a Relief Society teacher for forty years, and later as a class leader in the Primary and counselor in the M.I.A. In 1932, Joseph died, and in 1942, Loretta moved from Weston to Hayward, California to take care of two of her grandchildren. In 1944, she returned to Weston, where she lived with her sister, Effie. In 1947, she sold her home in Weston and moved to California to keep house for her two unmarried sons. She died October 12, 1963 in Brigham City, Utah.
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This is a four-page typescript biography from the Margaret Steed Hess collection, written by one of Loretta's daughters, Arilla Olsen Price in 1940, and continued by Edrio Biggs Olsen, a daughter-in-law, in 1952. Early on, Arilla provides a list of Loretta's children and their birth dates. She also describes some of the hardships of Loretta's life in her youth, such as her limited education due to transportation difficulties, and her father's poor health. The social activities at the time took place mostly in the homes, and there were dance parties, candy pulls, quilting, and rag bees. Her parents were strong in the Church, and Loretta learned much from them. While Loretta never experienced wealth, she was generous with all that she had, including her time. She also took good care of those who were sick, and she provided service for all those who needed it. In 1939, Loretta began suffering from arthritis in her legs, though she continued walking. Edrio describes Loretta as a having been a personable woman, who was also extremely observant and keen. In her later years, Loretta particularly enjoyed spending time with her family. Despite her old age, she also traveled often.
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1862-