Erma Olsen Pickett
Erma was born in the early morning hours of January 16, 1905. Her parents were Louis Christian Olsen and Pheba Ann Mackey Olsen. She was born in Manti, Sanpete, Utah. She was the seventh of nine children.
At the age of five her family moved to Sterling, Sanpete, Utah. Her childhood in Sterling was a happy time. Her father Louis was called to Sterling to be the bishop. He was a farmer and also owned the Sterling General store. The family lived in the back of the store which was small compared with the lovely home they had left in Manti. Erma and her family moved from Manti to Sterling in a covered wagon. The family also had a buggy.
Erma learned how to work at an early age. She helped with the milking of sixteen cows. She had a pony to ride while taking the cows to the pasture each morning, and bring them home at night. She worked with the other family members to thin, weed, and top the sugar beets her father grew. Several summers she lived with the family in Pettyville, Sanpete, Utah, just west of Sterling, where her father owned a farm. Erma had to share a bed with her two older sisters. Being the youngest she had to sleep in the middle.
Erma attended school in Sterling until the age of fourteen when she graduated from the eight grade. The next winter Erma rode an old school bus, which had plank seats and no glass in the windows, to Manti, so she could attend High School. It was very cold in the winter and the bus had no heat. The children sat on each others feet to keep them warm. Before Erma could finish High School, she moved with her parents to Rochester, Emery, Utah. (Now the town of Moore) There was not a High School in the area and she felt bad that she could not attend school. In order to make some money, she found a job cleaning the little brick four room school house. Erma wanted to get back in school, so the following year she found a ride back to Sterling where she lived with her older brother, Erbin, and his wife. That winter she attended High School in Manti. The following year she had no money and couldn't return to school. So again she worked as a janitor for the school in Rochester. The next summer she found a better job by going to Syracuse, Davis, Utah, and working in the tomatoes.
About that time the depression had really struck home. The price of grain and other crops fell. Her father lost his farm in Rochester, and the family moved to Axtell, Sanpete, Utah, where they had a small farm. The three youngest children moved with the family. The home in Axtell was very small. Henry, Ada, and Erma lived in a tent for the summer. There Erma helped with the sugar beets, Hopeing to earn enough money to get back in school. That fall the principal, Ellis Johnson, from Manti, came to Axtell and ask her if she would come and live at their home and work for them. She could help with the children and do house work. They would pay her three dollars and fifty cents a week and give her room and board. This made it possible for her to return to school and her dream of graduating from High School was fulfilled. She was the only one in her family that was able to graduate from High School.
After living a year in Axtell, Erma's father, Louis started having health problems so the family moved back to Sterling. Erma's parents lived the rest of their lives in Sterling. Soon after they moved there her mother, Pheba, had her leg ran over by a car. She had a lot of problems with that leg and needed help so Erma moved back home.
Erma met Merrill Pickett one warm spring day in April of 1924. She started dating him the following April. Erma married Merrill Pickett, in the Manti Temple, on a lovely spring day, April 28, 1926. They made their home in Gunnison, Sanpete, Utah.
Their first home was a small log house just east of where she now lives. They paid ten dollars a month rent. They lived there seven months. The only money they had was from the cream check they received every other week. Sometimes in the summer Merrill would take his team of horses and work for other farmers for three dollars a day.
For a long time Erma did all their washing on a scrubbing board. She was very happy when they could buy a second hand washer for five dollars. It was a wooden tub with a motor which spun the tub. She had to put the clothes through the rubber ringer, turning it by hand.
After Merrill's father died, Erma and Merrill moved into the back part of the Pickett home so they would be there for Merrill mother. They help care for her the last years of her life. They lived in the back room until their small family became too large for the one room. They then moved into the front part of the house and grandma Pickett moved into the back room. After the death of grandma Pickett the home became their's. Erma has now lived in the family home for seventy nine years.
Merrill and Erma are the parents of six children, Norma (Douglas) Jensen (both deceased), Jerry (deceased) (Vonda) Pickett, Louis (Willy) Pickett, Nada Ann (Sterling) Stillman, Phyllis (Lee) Jensen, and Kirby (Georgeana) Pickett. They have twenty-seven grandchildren, and a total posterity of more than two hundred.
Erma has always been very active in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When she first moved to Gunnison, they were members of the Hamilton Ward. In August of 1948 the Hamilton Ward was dissolved. The family then went to the Gunnison Ward. Erma has been Relief Society President. She was the Stake Sunday School Secretary for several years. She has taught Primary, Mutual, Relief Society, and Sunday School. She sang with the singing mothers at the tabernacle for General Conference. She was a visiting teacher for many years. Erma and Merrill went on two full time missions. They served at the Manti Temple for fourteen years. Merrill passed away May 7, 1980.
Erma has many talents and hobbies. She has made hundreds of quilts. She is a very good cook. She loved to make pies. She has a green thumb. There are always beautiful flowers in her yard and inside her home.
Erma is still active. She belongs to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She enjoys going twice a month to the Boni Foi club. She lives in the Pickett home and keeps her house and lot looking nice.
This history was written in 2006.
Erma passed away March 1, 2007.
Erma was born in the early morning hours of January 16, 1905. Her parents were Louis Christian Olsen and Pheba Ann Mackey Olsen. She was born in Manti, Sanpete, Utah. She was the seventh of nine children.
At the age of five her family moved to Sterling, Sanpete, Utah. Her childhood in Sterling was a happy time. Her father Louis was called to Sterling to be the bishop. He was a farmer and also owned the Sterling General store. The family lived in the back of the store which was small compared with the lovely home they had left in Manti. Erma and her family moved from Manti to Sterling in a covered wagon. The family also had a buggy.
Erma learned how to work at an early age. She helped with the milking of sixteen cows. She had a pony to ride while taking the cows to the pasture each morning, and bring them home at night. She worked with the other family members to thin, weed, and top the sugar beets her father grew. Several summers she lived with the family in Pettyville, Sanpete, Utah, just west of Sterling, where her father owned a farm. Erma had to share a bed with her two older sisters. Being the youngest she had to sleep in the middle.
Erma attended school in Sterling until the age of fourteen when she graduated from the eight grade. The next winter Erma rode an old school bus, which had plank seats and no glass in the windows, to Manti, so she could attend High School. It was very cold in the winter and the bus had no heat. The children sat on each others feet to keep them warm. Before Erma could finish High School, she moved with her parents to Rochester, Emery, Utah. (Now the town of Moore) There was not a High School in the area and she felt bad that she could not attend school. In order to make some money, she found a job cleaning the little brick four room school house. Erma wanted to get back in school, so the following year she found a ride back to Sterling where she lived with her older brother, Erbin, and his wife. That winter she attended High School in Manti. The following year she had no money and couldn't return to school. So again she worked as a janitor for the school in Rochester. The next summer she found a better job by going to Syracuse, Davis, Utah, and working in the tomatoes.
About that time the depression had really struck home. The price of grain and other crops fell. Her father lost his farm in Rochester, and the family moved to Axtell, Sanpete, Utah, where they had a small farm. The three youngest children moved with the family. The home in Axtell was very small. Henry, Ada, and Erma lived in a tent for the summer. There Erma helped with the sugar beets, Hopeing to earn enough money to get back in school. That fall the principal, Ellis Johnson, from Manti, came to Axtell and ask her if she would come and live at their home and work for them. She could help with the children and do house work. They would pay her three dollars and fifty cents a week and give her room and board. This made it possible for her to return to school and her dream of graduating from High School was fulfilled. She was the only one in her family that was able to graduate from High School.
After living a year in Axtell, Erma's father, Louis started having health problems so the family moved back to Sterling. Erma's parents lived the rest of their lives in Sterling. Soon after they moved there her mother, Pheba, had her leg ran over by a car. She had a lot of problems with that leg and needed help so Erma moved back home.
Erma met Merrill Pickett one warm spring day in April of 1924. She started dating him the following April. Erma married Merrill Pickett, in the Manti Temple, on a lovely spring day, April 28, 1926. They made their home in Gunnison, Sanpete, Utah.
Their first home was a small log house just east of where she now lives. They paid ten dollars a month rent. They lived there seven months. The only money they had was from the cream check they received every other week. Sometimes in the summer Merrill would take his team of horses and work for other farmers for three dollars a day.
For a long time Erma did all their washing on a scrubbing board. She was very happy when they could buy a second hand washer for five dollars. It was a wooden tub with a motor which spun the tub. She had to put the clothes through the rubber ringer, turning it by hand.
After Merrill's father died, Erma and Merrill moved into the back part of the Pickett home so they would be there for Merrill mother. They help care for her the last years of her life. They lived in the back room until their small family became too large for the one room. They then moved into the front part of the house and grandma Pickett moved into the back room. After the death of grandma Pickett the home became their's. Erma has now lived in the family home for seventy nine years.
Merrill and Erma are the parents of six children, Norma (Douglas) Jensen (both deceased), Jerry (deceased) (Vonda) Pickett, Louis (Willy) Pickett, Nada Ann (Sterling) Stillman, Phyllis (Lee) Jensen, and Kirby (Georgeana) Pickett. They have twenty-seven grandchildren, and a total posterity of more than two hundred.
Erma has always been very active in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When she first moved to Gunnison, they were members of the Hamilton Ward. In August of 1948 the Hamilton Ward was dissolved. The family then went to the Gunnison Ward. Erma has been Relief Society President. She was the Stake Sunday School Secretary for several years. She has taught Primary, Mutual, Relief Society, and Sunday School. She sang with the singing mothers at the tabernacle for General Conference. She was a visiting teacher for many years. Erma and Merrill went on two full time missions. They served at the Manti Temple for fourteen years. Merrill passed away May 7, 1980.
Erma has many talents and hobbies. She has made hundreds of quilts. She is a very good cook. She loved to make pies. She has a green thumb. There are always beautiful flowers in her yard and inside her home.
Erma is still active. She belongs to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She enjoys going twice a month to the Boni Foi club. She lives in the Pickett home and keeps her house and lot looking nice.
This history was written in 2006.
Erma passed away March 1, 2007.
Erma Olsen Pickett
Erma was born in the early morning hours of January 16, 1905. Her parents were Louis Christian Olsen and Pheba Ann Mackey Olsen. She was born in Manti, Sanpete, Utah. She was the seventh of nine children.
At the age of five her family moved to Sterling, Sanpete, Utah. Her childhood in Sterling was a happy time. Her father Louis was called to Sterling to be the bishop. He was a farmer and also owned the Sterling General store. The family lived in the back of the store which was small compared with the lovely home they had left in Manti. Erma and her family moved from Manti to Sterling in a covered wagon. The family also had a buggy.
Erma learned how to work at an early age. She helped with the milking of sixteen cows. She had a pony to ride while taking the cows to the pasture each morning, and bring them home at night. She worked with the other family members to thin, weed, and top the sugar beets her father grew. Several summers she lived with the family in Pettyville, Sanpete, Utah, just west of Sterling, where her father owned a farm. Erma had to share a bed with her two older sisters. Being the youngest she had to sleep in the middle.
Erma attended school in Sterling until the age of fourteen when she graduated from the eight grade. The next winter Erma rode an old school bus, which had plank seats and no glass in the windows, to Manti, so she could attend High School. It was very cold in the winter and the bus had no heat. The children sat on each others feet to keep them warm. Before Erma could finish High School, she moved with her parents to Rochester, Emery, Utah. (Now the town of Moore) There was not a High School in the area and she felt bad that she could not attend school. In order to make some money, she found a job cleaning the little brick four room school house. Erma wanted to get back in school, so the following year she found a ride back to Sterling where she lived with her older brother, Erbin, and his wife. That winter she attended High School in Manti. The following year she had no money and couldn't return to school. So again she worked as a janitor for the school in Rochester. The next summer she found a better job by going to Syracuse, Davis, Utah, and working in the tomatoes.
About that time the depression had really struck home. The price of grain and other crops fell. Her father lost his farm in Rochester, and the family moved to Axtell, Sanpete, Utah, where they had a small farm. The three youngest children moved with the family. The home in Axtell was very small. Henry, Ada, and Erma lived in a tent for the summer. There Erma helped with the sugar beets, Hopeing to earn enough money to get back in school. That fall the principal, Ellis Johnson, from Manti, came to Axtell and ask her if she would come and live at their home and work for them. She could help with the children and do house work. They would pay her three dollars and fifty cents a week and give her room and board. This made it possible for her to return to school and her dream of graduating from High School was fulfilled. She was the only one in her family that was able to graduate from High School.
After living a year in Axtell, Erma's father, Louis started having health problems so the family moved back to Sterling. Erma's parents lived the rest of their lives in Sterling. Soon after they moved there her mother, Pheba, had her leg ran over by a car. She had a lot of problems with that leg and needed help so Erma moved back home.
Erma met Merrill Pickett one warm spring day in April of 1924. She started dating him the following April. Erma married Merrill Pickett, in the Manti Temple, on a lovely spring day, April 28, 1926. They made their home in Gunnison, Sanpete, Utah.
Their first home was a small log house just east of where she now lives. They paid ten dollars a month rent. They lived there seven months. The only money they had was from the cream check they received every other week. Sometimes in the summer Merrill would take his team of horses and work for other farmers for three dollars a day.
For a long time Erma did all their washing on a scrubbing board. She was very happy when they could buy a second hand washer for five dollars. It was a wooden tub with a motor which spun the tub. She had to put the clothes through the rubber ringer, turning it by hand.
After Merrill's father died, Erma and Merrill moved into the back part of the Pickett home so they would be there for Merrill mother. They help care for her the last years of her life. They lived in the back room until their small family became too large for the one room. They then moved into the front part of the house and grandma Pickett moved into the back room. After the death of grandma Pickett the home became their's. Erma has now lived in the family home for seventy nine years.
Merrill and Erma are the parents of six children, Norma (Douglas) Jensen (both deceased), Jerry (deceased) (Vonda) Pickett, Louis (Willy) Pickett, Nada Ann (Sterling) Stillman, Phyllis (Lee) Jensen, and Kirby (Georgeana) Pickett. They have twenty-seven grandchildren, and a total posterity of more than two hundred.
Erma has always been very active in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When she first moved to Gunnison, they were members of the Hamilton Ward. In August of 1948 the Hamilton Ward was dissolved. The family then went to the Gunnison Ward. Erma has been Relief Society President. She was the Stake Sunday School Secretary for several years. She has taught Primary, Mutual, Relief Society, and Sunday School. She sang with the singing mothers at the tabernacle for General Conference. She was a visiting teacher for many years. Erma and Merrill went on two full time missions. They served at the Manti Temple for fourteen years. Merrill passed away May 7, 1980.
Erma has many talents and hobbies. She has made hundreds of quilts. She is a very good cook. She loved to make pies. She has a green thumb. There are always beautiful flowers in her yard and inside her home.
Erma is still active. She belongs to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She enjoys going twice a month to the Boni Foi club. She lives in the Pickett home and keeps her house and lot looking nice.
This history was written in 2006.
Erma passed away March 1, 2007.
Erma was born in the early morning hours of January 16, 1905. Her parents were Louis Christian Olsen and Pheba Ann Mackey Olsen. She was born in Manti, Sanpete, Utah. She was the seventh of nine children.
At the age of five her family moved to Sterling, Sanpete, Utah. Her childhood in Sterling was a happy time. Her father Louis was called to Sterling to be the bishop. He was a farmer and also owned the Sterling General store. The family lived in the back of the store which was small compared with the lovely home they had left in Manti. Erma and her family moved from Manti to Sterling in a covered wagon. The family also had a buggy.
Erma learned how to work at an early age. She helped with the milking of sixteen cows. She had a pony to ride while taking the cows to the pasture each morning, and bring them home at night. She worked with the other family members to thin, weed, and top the sugar beets her father grew. Several summers she lived with the family in Pettyville, Sanpete, Utah, just west of Sterling, where her father owned a farm. Erma had to share a bed with her two older sisters. Being the youngest she had to sleep in the middle.
Erma attended school in Sterling until the age of fourteen when she graduated from the eight grade. The next winter Erma rode an old school bus, which had plank seats and no glass in the windows, to Manti, so she could attend High School. It was very cold in the winter and the bus had no heat. The children sat on each others feet to keep them warm. Before Erma could finish High School, she moved with her parents to Rochester, Emery, Utah. (Now the town of Moore) There was not a High School in the area and she felt bad that she could not attend school. In order to make some money, she found a job cleaning the little brick four room school house. Erma wanted to get back in school, so the following year she found a ride back to Sterling where she lived with her older brother, Erbin, and his wife. That winter she attended High School in Manti. The following year she had no money and couldn't return to school. So again she worked as a janitor for the school in Rochester. The next summer she found a better job by going to Syracuse, Davis, Utah, and working in the tomatoes.
About that time the depression had really struck home. The price of grain and other crops fell. Her father lost his farm in Rochester, and the family moved to Axtell, Sanpete, Utah, where they had a small farm. The three youngest children moved with the family. The home in Axtell was very small. Henry, Ada, and Erma lived in a tent for the summer. There Erma helped with the sugar beets, Hopeing to earn enough money to get back in school. That fall the principal, Ellis Johnson, from Manti, came to Axtell and ask her if she would come and live at their home and work for them. She could help with the children and do house work. They would pay her three dollars and fifty cents a week and give her room and board. This made it possible for her to return to school and her dream of graduating from High School was fulfilled. She was the only one in her family that was able to graduate from High School.
After living a year in Axtell, Erma's father, Louis started having health problems so the family moved back to Sterling. Erma's parents lived the rest of their lives in Sterling. Soon after they moved there her mother, Pheba, had her leg ran over by a car. She had a lot of problems with that leg and needed help so Erma moved back home.
Erma met Merrill Pickett one warm spring day in April of 1924. She started dating him the following April. Erma married Merrill Pickett, in the Manti Temple, on a lovely spring day, April 28, 1926. They made their home in Gunnison, Sanpete, Utah.
Their first home was a small log house just east of where she now lives. They paid ten dollars a month rent. They lived there seven months. The only money they had was from the cream check they received every other week. Sometimes in the summer Merrill would take his team of horses and work for other farmers for three dollars a day.
For a long time Erma did all their washing on a scrubbing board. She was very happy when they could buy a second hand washer for five dollars. It was a wooden tub with a motor which spun the tub. She had to put the clothes through the rubber ringer, turning it by hand.
After Merrill's father died, Erma and Merrill moved into the back part of the Pickett home so they would be there for Merrill mother. They help care for her the last years of her life. They lived in the back room until their small family became too large for the one room. They then moved into the front part of the house and grandma Pickett moved into the back room. After the death of grandma Pickett the home became their's. Erma has now lived in the family home for seventy nine years.
Merrill and Erma are the parents of six children, Norma (Douglas) Jensen (both deceased), Jerry (deceased) (Vonda) Pickett, Louis (Willy) Pickett, Nada Ann (Sterling) Stillman, Phyllis (Lee) Jensen, and Kirby (Georgeana) Pickett. They have twenty-seven grandchildren, and a total posterity of more than two hundred.
Erma has always been very active in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When she first moved to Gunnison, they were members of the Hamilton Ward. In August of 1948 the Hamilton Ward was dissolved. The family then went to the Gunnison Ward. Erma has been Relief Society President. She was the Stake Sunday School Secretary for several years. She has taught Primary, Mutual, Relief Society, and Sunday School. She sang with the singing mothers at the tabernacle for General Conference. She was a visiting teacher for many years. Erma and Merrill went on two full time missions. They served at the Manti Temple for fourteen years. Merrill passed away May 7, 1980.
Erma has many talents and hobbies. She has made hundreds of quilts. She is a very good cook. She loved to make pies. She has a green thumb. There are always beautiful flowers in her yard and inside her home.
Erma is still active. She belongs to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She enjoys going twice a month to the Boni Foi club. She lives in the Pickett home and keeps her house and lot looking nice.
This history was written in 2006.
Erma passed away March 1, 2007.
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