Petroline Jorgine Gaarden

Biography

Petroline Jorgine Gaarden was born on July 3, 1853 in Titran, Norway, on the island of Frøya. Her father, Peder Olsen Gaarden, was a royal ship captain and was often away travelling. Petroline was taught the domestic arts by her mother and nanny, alongside her older sister Anna. She had been somewhat of a sickly child, which she carried into her adulthood, making it difficult for her to complete daily tasks.

In her late teens, Petroline was sent to the Norwegian mainland to attend technical school. Petroline was very skilled in the domestic arts, and became a dressmaker by trade. She even opened her own dress shop in Namsos, Norway, alongside her newly widowed sister Anna. Petroline had many suitors, but never married.

Petroline was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by her sister Anna, who was baptized in 1881. Petroline was far more hesitant about joining the church. It took her several years to become convinced that it was the right church for her. Finally, Petroline was baptized in September 1883.

Petroline moved to America in 1885, and lived with her sister Anna for the rest of her life, first in Logan, Utah, then in Salt Lake City, Utah. Petroline was a beloved aunt to Anna’s sons who affectionately called her “auntie.”

In 1903, Anna and Petroline were called to serve a mission together in Norway. They were the first single sister missionaries in Scandinavia. They served for several years proselytizing and gathering genealogical information. They returned to Utah in 1907.

Petroline died on April 11, 1929 in Salt Lake City at the age of seventy-five. She was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.