Who was Miss Anna Kristine Salkjelsvik?

Miss Anna Kristine Salkjelsvik was a 21 (twenty-one) year-old Norwegian Titanic survivor who embarked on a life-changing journey from her homeland to America in 1912. Born on October 30, 1890, in Saltkjelsvik, Skodje, Romsdal County, Norway, Anna’s story is one of survival, resilience, and the pursuit of a new life in the United States.

Early Life and Family

Anna Kristine Salkjelsvik was christened on November 23, 1890, in the Church of Norway tradition. She was born into a working-class family, with her father, Ole Iver Johansen Grodås (born 1850), working as a carpenter. Her mother, Anne Marie Brigitte (née Karlsdatter, 1857-1906), had married Ole on January 13, 1881, in Skodje, More og Romsdal.

Anna grew up in a sizeable family, with several siblings:

• Ole Andreas (born January 17, 1883)
• Karen Marie (born August 30, 1885)
• Olivia Karoline (born March 28, 1888)
• Karl Johan (born February 8, 1893)
• Johan Olaf (born March 28, 1894)

The Journey to America

What prompted Anna’s decision to emigrate?

Anna’s journey to America was inspired by her older sister, Olivia, who had emigrated in the summer of 1910. Olivia had arrived in Québec aboard the Laurentic before settling in Proctor, Duluth, Minnesota. After saving enough money, Olivia sent for Anna to join her in the United States.

Anna’s Titanic Experience

Anna boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, as a third-class passenger. Her ticket (number 343120) cost £7, 13s, a significant sum for a young woman of her background. Before embarking on the Titanic, Anna had traveled from Ålesund to Newcastle via Bergen.

Notable facts about Anna’s Titanic journey:

• She traveled with a family friend, Adolf Humblen
• Anna befriended other Norwegian passengers, including Karen Marie Abelseth and Olaus Abelseth
• She shared a cabin with Karen Abelseth and some Swedish girls

The Night of the Sinking

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Anna was asleep when the Titanic struck the iceberg. She was unaware of any problems until her male companions, who were berthed in the bow of the ship, came to warn her and the other women in their group.

“On the night of the sinking Anna had been asleep and had noticed nothing out of the ordinary.”

The group made their way to the aft well deck, where they awaited further instructions. When a steward called for women and children to follow him, Anna and Karen complied, leaving their male companions behind. During the chaos on the boat deck, Anna and Karen became separated. While Karen ended up in lifeboat 16, Anna found herself at the bow end of the boat deck and was evacuated in Collapsible C.

Life After the Titanic

How did Anna rebuild her life in America?

After her rescue, Anna eventually made it to Minnesota, where she reunited with her sister in Proctor. It was here that she met William Larsen, a fellow Norwegian who had arrived in the USA on July 9, 1909. William worked as a machinist in the car shop of the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway until his retirement in 1954.

Marriage and Family

Anna and William’s love story blossomed quickly after her arrival in America:

• Married on September 7, 1912, at Our Saviour’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minnesota
• Anna was listed as “Anna Olson” at the time of her marriage
• The couple had four children:
  1. Margaret L. (May 27, 1913 - 1994, later Mrs. Fred Nelson)
  2. Astor Melvin (June 20, 1915 - 1991)
  3. Ernest (born 1917/1918)
  4. Vivian Janet (August 9, 1919 - 1999, later Mrs. Gordon Sandeno and then Mrs. Harry G. Olafson)

The Larsen family made their home in Midway, St. Louis, Minnesota. In later years, they lived at 420 Ugstad Road and were members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Proctor.

Anna’s Later Years and Legacy

Anna was widowed on September 11, 1965, when William passed away. She spent her final years in a care home, rarely discussing the Titanic disaster in depth. However, she did occasionally grant newspaper or television interviews, providing valuable firsthand accounts of the tragic event.

How did Anna’s Titanic experience impact her life?

While Anna chose not to dwell on the Titanic disaster, her survival undoubtedly shaped her life’s trajectory. Her quick marriage to William Larsen and the naming of her second son “Astor” suggest that the event left a lasting impression on her.

Anna Kristine Salkjelsvik Larsen passed away on February 21, 1977, at the age of 86 (eighty-six), following a stroke. She was laid to rest at Oneota Cemetery in Duluth, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and a family that flourished in her adopted homeland.

Anna’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives forever changed by the Titanic disaster, and the strength of those who survived to build new lives in America.