Elsa Linnea Johansdotter was born on 20 Dec 1903 as the seventh child of Johannes Pettersson and Clara Blom in Fölene, Rakåsa Mellomgården, Sweden. She had six siblings, namely: Amanda Josefina, Hulda Hanna Justina, Anna Maria, Karl Henning Sigurd, John Elof, and Fritz Erland. She died on 16 Jun 1978 in Hudene, Sweden