In 1889, eighteen-year-old Helga Pauline Larsen traveled from her home in Akershus, Norway to work as an Indentured Servant on the farm of Ole Thoresen and Marit Kolstad-Thoresen, Swift County, Minnesota. Helga has 1-1/2 years remaining on her four-year indentured contract when she realizes that she is pregnant by Marit Kolstad-Thoresen's youngest brother, Andrew Kolstad. Andrew is sent to live with another sister, Inga, and Helga's contract is sold to Ole Thoresen's former sister-in-law, Betsey Rust-Thoresen-Gilbertsen who lived to the north in Pope County, Minnesota. After Helga gives birth and completes the remainder of her indentured contract, she realizes that once she is on her own, she will be unable to care for herself and her infant daughter. So she reluctantly marries Betsey's brother Henry Rust. Helga proceeds to give birth to four more children. In January 1903, Helga and son die while giving birth. Helga's Story, like so many other immigrant women's story, need to be told.
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Babs Joined: Mar-10-2022 |
I am Helga Pauline Larsen's great-granddaughter. My paternal Aunt told me Helga's story when I was 10 years old. At the time, it moved me so much that I remember thinking that Helga's Story needs to be told. Sixty-four years later....that is exactly what I'm doing.
