Berthe Katrina Christiansen

Berthe Katrina Christiansen is the daughter of Lars Niels Christiansen and Maren Kirstine Jorgensdatter, both from Denmark. The family immigrated to America sailing on the ship “Emerald Isle.” After arriving in America, they traveled to Nebraska and with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints they joined the John G. Holman Company. On September 1, 1868, the Company left Nebraska for the Great Salt Lake Valley. Bertha Katrina had been ill while on the ship and was not well when they began the journey west. Two weeks after leaving Nebraska, 14-year-old Bertha Katrina passed away and was buried in Wyoming alongside the Mormon Trail.

From the history of her mother, Maren: “Birthe was a beautiful daughter that died at age fourteen while the family was traveling by ox team to Salt Lake City. She was buried in her night gown in a wooden box, leaving a grieving family.”

From the history of her sister, Ane Kirstine: “A few days from Salt Lake City, our dear sister, Birthe, a beautiful girl of fourteen, died and was buried by the wayside, after a very crude and hasty preparation. She was wrapped in a sheet, placed in a rough box, and with the simplest of ceremonies, consigned to mother earth.”