Betty Hurst (Madson)

History of Olive Augusta Tanner Bott Written by Emma Madson and Betty Hurst Olive Augusta Tanner was born 8 August 16, 1894 in Payson, Utah. She was the 14th child and seventh daughter of William Smith and Clarissa Jane Moore Tanner. A beautiful, blonde, curly-headed girl, she was the pet and pride of the entire family. Olive had the usual diseases of children. At the age of six years, she started school in what is now the Taylor School building in Payson. Olive’s mother died when she was 13 or 14 years of age. She was sent home from school to get a book she had forgotten. When she arrived, her sister Emma told her to stay as her mother was very ill and so many things were needed to be done. The teacher made such a fuss about her not returning, and then felt rather squelched when she found out that her mother had died that day. Olive had many girlfriends including Veatus Bingham, Viola Brewerton, Zelpha Tanner and many other girls. She graduated from the Payson Junior and Senior High Schools. She attended Brigham Young University. While at BYU she studied piano. While attending BYU, she lived with a family by the name of Ingram, and with Mrs. Taylor, the wife of apostle John Taylor. She went with Joe Taylor, their son, for some time. He died with the flu the same time she did. In 1915, Olive taught one year of school at Howell, Utah, a small town near Logan, Utah. She also taught primary, mutual, and kindergarten groups in Sunday School. Olive married Harry Bott, June 6, 1917 in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Provo, Utah while Harry worked for ZCMI wholesale warehouse. Harry was called into the service during World War One. Olive went to live with her Sister Emma and her husband William Madson in Payson, Utah while Harry served in the war. She contracted the flu in November, 1918, during the epidemic. Dr. Hasler of Provo was her Dr. and Hannah Bigelow, her nurse. They delivered a baby girl on November 2, 1918 and named her Betty Olive. Olive died of the flu on November 6, 1918. Harry was serving in France when she passed away, and returned six months later. No public funerals were held. A short service at the grave was given with the Bishop of the Provo Ward giving a talk. Burial was in the Payson City Cemetery on her parent’s lot.