 The family moved to the village of Ekset in Volda when she was four years old.Berte Canutte gained knowledge of the pietism teachings of Hans Nielsen Hauge as a small child, and around 1800 joined a small circle of Haugeans led by Vebjørn Svendsen in Volda.Berte Canutte learned writing at home and by maintaining letter correspondence with fellow Haugeans.