The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

On October 9, former Chinook resident, Vernice Doughten became a centenarian. She wishes to express gratitude to all those who sent cards and flowers for her 100th birthday. In this recognition, she joins other area residents like Virginia Olson who celebrated with friends and family at the Senior Citizens Center in Chinook on October 9. Starting the day by attending church, Olson turned 100 on Sunday, October 10.

According to Doughten's grandson, Rob Doughten, "Grandma received well over 50 cards for her birthday, and they keep on coming! The cards have made her birthday very special."

To celebrate this milestone, immediate family members gathered at the Bob and Diane Doughten home in Billings. With approximately a dozen people in attendance, Doughten ushered in the year and shared slices of her birthday cake-a vanilla bundt style made by Nothing Bundt Cakes and purchased by Christy Yochum. The cake was accompanied by mini-bundts in a variety of flavors for anyone the birthday girl wanted to share with at St. John's.

In a report from Rob, "The highlight of Grandma's birthday was hearing her niece read from a book my sister and her family made of my niece and nephew wishing Great Grandma a happy 90th birthday. Let's hope Grandma reaches 110 or even beyond. After all, Moses lived to be a 120."

He added: "Personally, I do hope the story I wrote inspires others to take the time to interview their grandparents and write down the rich histories of their own families. As Tolkien once wrote, 'All that is gold does not glitter, / Not all those who wander are lost; / The old that is strong does not wither, / Deep roots are not reached by the frost.'"

Those poetic lines derive from J.R.R. Tolkein's novel The Fellowship of the Ring. Character Bilbo Baggins speaks them in a prophecy about Aragorn, a battle-seasoned warrior. Because those lines metaphorically refer to the qualities of wisdom and strength that are beyond appearances and the five senses, they often call to mind those of advanced age and experiences.

Besides the storytelling and reliving of memories, gifts were distributed and pictures taken. Among those priceless photographs was a four generations picture of Madison Yochum (great granddaughter), Christy Yochum (granddaughter), Bob Doughten (son), and Vernice

A similar celebration took place in Chinook celebrating the life of Virginia Olson. Family and friends traveled from Arizona, California, Oregon, North Dakota, Washington, and all over Montana to participate. Her two living children, all six of her grandchildren, and all nine of her great grandchildren attended.

Olson received flowers from family who live as far away as Norway. About her grandmother, Angie Olson stated: "Grandma O is truly one of a kind and deeply loved by many. Some of the shared memories on her special day included her unmatched cooking skills and her resilience. We had old photos copied and placed on all the tables at the Senior Center, and there were many from her days working in the shipyards during World War II as well as raising her family and traveling with my grandpa, Walt, when they retired."

When invited to share a highlight from her grandmother's life, Tami Schoen responded: "It is really hard to think of one highlight. However, I cherish the time we get to spend together now when I truly can appreciate everything she has seen and done in her life. I love listening to the stories of her childhood growing up in North Dakota. She talks about taking the horses and wagon to church, especially at Christmas for Midnight Mass when her dad would put the bells on the horses and they would bundle under blankets with heated potatoes to help stay warm. When they arrived back home at daybreak, her mom would make a special breakfast.

Wearing a wrist corsage and a sash that reads "100 and Fabulous," Virginia Olson was surrounded by friends and family when she celebrated her status as a centenarian last week.

"At a young age, Grandma was in charge of cooking on a wood burning stove for an entire threshing crew. Also, she adamantly states she was not a Rosie the Riveter because those ladies only welded rivets onto the outside of the ships. She was a ship welder, so she got lowered into compartments of the war ships to do actual welding."

Schoen added: "I don't know that I would want to live to be 100, but if I could be in as good of health as Grandma is, I might. She has had a lot of sorrow in her life with losing two sons and her husband (my grandpa) fifteen years ago, but she has many joys also. She has seen all of her grandchildren get married, has nine great grandchildren with another on the way, and was even able to attend a great grandchild's high school graduation. The thing I admire the most is her ability to have been through so much but to always remain focused on the positive in every situation. She is truly a beautiful person inside and out."

If the lives of these two centenarians are any indication, it appears that living to be 100 means having an October birthday, working hard, and staying optimistic!