Anna Marna Larsdotter

Biography

Anna Marna Larsdotter was born on 5 July 1826 in Kirstianstad, Sweden to Bengta Månsdotter and Lars Peter Homström, though she spent most of her life with her stepfather Jöns Nilsson. She grew up in very poor circumstances and had to work to support her family. She married Anders Andersson, a travelling tailor, on 13 April 1849. It was a very abusive and unhappy marriage, with Anders often gone on long trips.

During this perilous time, Anna was frequently visited by a neighbor, Jons Andersson, who helped take care of Anna's two children while she worked. Then Anna got pregnant with Jons' child. When her husband Anders heard about this, he returned home, beat her, and left forever. Eventually even Anna's home was taken from her as Anders' creditors moved in to take what they could. Anna and her family moved somewhere else where she gave birth to a baby girl.

In 1865, Anna met an unmarried man named Swen Bengtsson who invited her and her family to move in with him. She accepted but was quickly abused and deserted again, now pregnant with Swen's child. Eventually Anna and her now four children had to move in to an old corral with two other impoverished families. She and all of her children had to work to provide for themselves. Anna soon met the widower Ola Offeson, who invited her to live with him. Unlike the other men in Anna's life, Ola was a good man who helped to take care of the family. While living with Ola, Anna learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ and was baptized on 21 June 1880.

Shortly after their baptism, Ola procured enough money to take himself and Anna to Zion. They travelled on the ship Wisconsin and arrived in Zion in July 1880, where they were married. They ultimately settled in Pleasant Grove. Anna's life in Zion was one of considerable peace and joy compared to her life in Sweden. When Anna was too feeble to take care of herself, she moved in with her daughter Bengta where she died on 24 November 1905.