As is typical for girls of her age, Brünnhild began working on a dairy farm at the age of 14, spending her days herding cows out to pasture, milking cows, churning butter, making cheese, and performing various performances. Yes. Other household chores.
The Størsets were a hard-working family by all accounts, but despite all their efforts, they were always just above starvation. The situation became so dire that Paul had to register several times to receive welfare benefits. Their financial situation reportedly worsened in 1878, when Brünnhild was 18, just a few years before he left for America.
Not surprisingly, Brünnhild became obsessed with money. It was a love that would live within her for the rest of her life and make her do the unthinkable again and again.
Opinion about young Brünnhild's character appears to have been divided among the residents of her hometown. There were also her admirers, including Agaton Hansteen, a pastor at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and her employer. They considered her a good Christian and a hard worker. She was well versed in the Bible and knew all her own prayers. They had no problem with her misbehaving.