| Harriet Oleson | |
|---|---|
| Personal Information | |
| Sex/Gender: | Female |
| Job/Career: | Mercantile owner |
| Series Information | |
| Played by: | Katherine MacGregor |
Harriet Oleson is the owner of Oleson's Mercantile, along with her husband Nels. Harriet has two children, Nellie and Willie Oleson and later on in the series she also adopts a young girl named Nancy. She often has a part in most of the town cruelness and gossip. There is a soft side to her personality though, as seen in the two part episode Blind Journey, where the blind school comes to Walnut Grove.
In the episode Family Quarrel, Harriet and Nels split up because of repeated arguments. Nels stays at the hotel and Harriet remains at the mercantile with Nellie and Willie. Mrs. Oleson grew up in Saint Louis, MO and was going to move back there if Nels and her didn't make amends.