The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-02-05
Saint Cloud Lady
Celebrates 102 Birthday
Mrs. Gertrude Landwehr, Greets
Friends Monday-Hale and
Hearty-Keen Mind

Mrs. Gertrude Landwehr, or st.
Joseph's home here, who braved
the pioneer hardships Of Stearns
county and settled in st. Augusta
in 1857, is 102 years old today. The
occasion will be broadcast over
WCCO, Minneapolis and st. Paul
radio station, officials Of the sta
ton announced Saturday.
Mrs. Landwehr, the oldest pion-
eer in Central Minnesota, arose
this morning, at six o'clock. She
ate one egg, a huge piece Of her
birthday cakeq generous slice
Of home-baked bread, several bis
cults, and washed it down with a
few tumblers of milk. She said
she was satisfied and very content
ed in being able to eat such a
breakfast with more that a CEN
fury behind her. If it had not been
for the birthday cake, an elabor-
ate masterpiece Of pastry, baked
by the Benedictine sisters Of the
home in honor Of the event, she
would have asked for a dish of ice
cream, which in recent years has
become her favorite dish.
Mrs. Landwehr went to mass
prayed her favorite prayers from
her large-lettered German missed,
followed that with a rosary, and
then went back to her room for
nap Pip and tuck sleeping during
the day is her favorite pastime, but
any visitors arriving will bring her
from bed in a jiffy, the sisters OF
the home declare. She loves COM
pany and will never miss an OPP
portunity for conversation with
friends or relatives, and insists
that they are not coming often
enough to see her in her old age.
Just as soon as her company Is
gone she is back in bed, probably
with an eye open waiting for more
visitors to appear. The sisters say
that she is able to remember her
friends and acquaintance and that
her memory is one Of the things
which has withstood the march Of
time. That is evident. Many call
ers at the home ask to be introduce
ed to the centenarian and she US
ally remembers them.
"I am so happy today" Mrs.
is telling her friends, in
German of course. "Just think Of
being 1O2 years old. I never bar
gained for that" ........--.
When Mrs. Landwehr was 100
years old she said that she was
ready for her decline. Now she ap-
pears more active and eager than
two years ago when she attracted
attention by becom-
ing centenarian.
II suppose was really surprised
that I was 100 years old, and
thought L had better show some
signs Of it. Now that I'm used to
being an old woman, think I'll
show them all that years mean
she said.
Mrs. Landwehr still has for her
room mate her step-daughter, Mrs.
Mrs. Elizabeth Kiffmeyer, who is
nearing 80 years. There is little
in the appearance Of the
TWO women and their occupations
are about the same.
And so to day will pass. Tomor-
row. judging by appearances, Mrs.
Landwehr will get up, eat break
last, go to mass and pray from her
follow 1t up with a
,osary, and begin to look forward
%. her 103rd birthday. Her friends
1t st. Joseph's home are hoping
Tor that because the huge layer
Of roses, and gold and white trim
ming all wrought into the iceing,
was excitement for them. And
probably it gave them hopes for
The same interesting and advanced
age. &c sg,s... E>u
Germany and came to this country
at the age Of % years. She was
married in Germantown, ILL.,, and
then came to Stearns county
where she made her home until
she went to ST. Joseph's with the
exception Of few years spent In
Oregan. Her husband, Henry
Landwehr, died in 1882:
Mrs. Landwehr has 38 grand
115 great-grandchildren
and now has one great-great-grand-
child, Berneida Dietman, Rockville,
who is one year of age. The county
pioneer has four living children,
Henry. who is 76, lives in Oregon,
and Barney, II, lives in st. Aug
usta, Frank, aged IS, lives at Sc
dan, William, the youngest in the
family, is 81, and lives in st. Cloud,
where he has been businessman
for many years.-St. Cloud Times.