Bengta Andersdotter was born on March 23, 1814 in Vallby, Kyrkheddinge, Malmöhus, Sweden. She was the first of her parents' two children to survive into adulthood. On November 24, 1834, she married Ola Pehrsson, and for many years they lived on their farm near her parents.

Her husband and son, and later the rest of her children, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which led Bertha to eventually be baptized in 1856. In 1857, she left for America with her husband, two of her sons, and her two surviving daughters. Shortly after their arrival in Utah, Bengta's husband and youngest daughter died. After this, she lived most of her time with her children. She died on July 4, 1881, in Ephraim, Sanpete, Utah.