Karin Larson

Biography

Karin grew up in Sweden as the youngest girl of 11 children. She grew up in a farming community and her family was well off. They owned 40 acres, an orchard, a barn with lots of farm animals, a bathhouse, and a greenhouse surrounded by lilac bushes. Karin and the other children would play in a pond nearby and skate during the winter. She loved to pick wildflowers, had a pet fish, and could knit a pair of stockings by the time she was six. Her parents raised all the children to believe in God and that He would answer their prayers.

When she was young, her oldest sister, Ingrid, joined the church. Karin’s parents strongly opposed, but her sister immigrated to Utah anyway. In the coming years, Karin and many of her family members joined the church as well. Her father passed away when she was 10 and soon after that, she immigrated to Utah. Karin’s mother sent her on her own with family friends because the travel fare was half price for children. Upon arriving in Utah, Karin lived with Ingrid. However, the house owners would only let her stay on the condition that she work. Karin loved school and badly wanted to go, but instead she worked washing dishes. It wasn’t until later that she was able to go to school for a short while, but she advanced two grade levels in nine months. She also worked in the prophet Heber J. Grant’s House for a time and got to attend the Salt Lake Temple dedication.

At age 22, Karin married Per Gustaf Jansson in Salt Lake. They had 10 children together, but Karin’s husband passed away about 8 months before their youngest daughter was born. Karin moved to Murray, Utah and at 51 married Carl August Lundell, but he passed away 4 years later. Later in life she loved gardening and roses especially were her favorite. Karin was very faithful, optimistic, and had a great sense of humor. She moved around Utah a couple times until she passed away in 1955 at age 83.