Kerstina Neilson Harrison Olson was born in Sweden May 27, 1858. She was eight years old when her mother died and her father remarried. They came to America when she was eighteen years old. On the way over she had a shipboard romance on the S.S. Idaho with Peter Bengtsson Harrison. On the wagon train coming west, her stepmother’s efforts to keep her away from the young Harrison were unsuccessful, and they were married October 20, 1876, in Salt Lake City.
They first settled on a small farm in Alta, Utah, and later moved to Sandy, where Peter cut, polished, and loaded the granite used to build the Salt Lake Temple. They were blessed with three children: Otto, William, and Joseph Richard. Peter was suddenly stricken with a severe attack of appendicitis, and died on November 3 1883 after just seven years of marriage. There was another Swedish convert in their ward by the name of Paul Lars Olson. He was trying to raise a small daughter named Caroline on his own, and they decided to unite the two families and were married on November 27 1884. They were blessed with three children: George, Albert and Ellen.
In 1890, the Olson family was called by President Wilford Woodruff to settle in Star Valley, Wyoming. Kerstina received the calling of midwife for the Star Valley area by Apostle Joseph F. Smith. They sold their home and bought a wagon, team and supplies to make the journey. Paul, Kerstina, and their seven children left Sandy, Utah, on May 22 1890.
Following a difficult journey, they arrived in Afton on June 8, 1890. Charles was born on December 7th. A dugout in the hillside east of Afton make by Paul, Kerstina, and the three Harrison boys, provided a home for them after residing on 3rd East in Afton. Sister Olson, as known by all, was very ill at this time, and the people of Afton helped her through this difficult period. By spring, Paul had proved upon the quarter section in Dry Creek, now called Osmond. They started their first home that summer. Over the next few years, Ethel, Lillie and Violet came to bless their home.
The first Primary was organized in 1893, and was held in the Dry Creek School House. Kerstina served as first counselor for five years. She then served as Relief Society President for twelve years despite her continued ill health.
Kerstina also kept busy in her calling as midwife. Paul made her a special toboggan called a “One Horse Shay.” This small sleigh was put on small narrow runners to fit the narrow lane roads. She kept the sleigh filled with straw, hay and oats, and kept warm by wrapping in a quilt and using heated rocks. In the summer, she used a small cart. She was there for those in need day or night, no matter the weather. She also cared for a small child for nine years whose mother had died at childbirth.
Kerstina died on October 29, 1914, from a stroke. She had four children by her first marriage (one died at birth) and nine children by her second marriage (two died at birth). Her husband Paul died on December 9, 1919.
On July 2, 2011 she became a member of the Afton Hall of Fame!
