Thronson, Karen Severson (25 July 1850–1 Sept. 1929), emigrant from Norway, was born Karen Helgesdottir in Landås, Norway, to Carrie Severson (Karen Olesdottir Sletten) and Helge Severson (Helge Sjursen Sletten), a deep-sea commercial fisherman. In 1867, the family, which included Karen’s three brothers, migrated to the United States. The Seversons were not wealthy. Because of Norway’s topography, farming or fishing alone was not enough to support a household. Carrie persuaded Helge to immigrate to the western United States in order to provide land for their sons. Like many Norwegian immigrants, they came just after the U.S. Civil War, encouraged by promises of free land thanks to the Homestead Act of ...
