Two area women turning 100

By GWEN ALBERS Western News Reporter

Hazel Walch

Troy's Hazel Walch won't give up men just because she's turning 100.

"I still have five boyfriends," Walch said. "Will Power gets me up in the morning and then I go visit John. When I leave John, Charley Horse comes along and stays for quite awhile. Then Art Hritis comes and stays and stays. I'm so tired when he leaves that I go to bed with Ben Gay."

Walch is sure to share that same humor during a Thanksgiving Day dinner in her honor at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 23, at Kootenai Senior Center in Troy. The dinner is open to the public.

"A special table will be set up for her with a special centerpiece and a surprise birthday cake," said Karen Turner, a senior center employee.

"That's one spry old gal. You would never dream that woman is going to be 100 years old," Turner continued.

When Walch turns 100 on Nov. 29, Troy Mayor Jim Hammons will declare it Hazel Walch Day. She also will light the community Christmas tree on Dec. 2.

A retired Troy Public Schools teacher and librarian, Walch continues to live in her home with her 71-year-old son, Owen Dickerson. He weekly takes her grocery shopping at Stein's IGA in Troy and to lunch. She still occasionally goes shopping in Kalispell and Sandpoint, Idaho.

At age 92, Walch beat cancer. Two years ago she broke a hip, and before that, she broke a rib when she fell outside. Other than that, Walch is in good shape.

"Even the doctors don't believe me when I tell them my age," she said.

Walch has outlived two husbands and 10 of her 11 siblings. A 95-year-old brother survives in Rosebud, Mont., where Walch was born.

She never smoked, rarely drank and likes to eat sweets. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, pie and chocolate are among her favorites.

Walch has an amazing memory of her 100 years, which took her from a childhood without electricity or plumbing through the Internet age, although she's never tried the computer.

Walch remembers paying $50 a month to rent a two-bedroom home in Troy before building her current home in 1972. She paid $759 for her first car - a 1929 Chevy coupe.

After graduating from Rosebud High School, Walch in three months earned a teaching certificate from Dillon Normal School. She got her first teaching job in 1925 at age 19; it paid $85 a month.

"I started teaching 15 miles from Rosebud and walked home every Friday night," said Walch, who lived in the one-room schoolhouse during the week.

She continued her teaching career at Montana one-room schoolhouses in Boyes, Coalwood, Crow Rock and Intake and later earned a four-year degree from Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

Walch taught in Paradise for nine years before getting a job with Troy Public Schools in 1958.

She also served as a mentor to young people.

"Hazel influenced a lot of kids," said Diane Dudley of Troy, whose daughter, Sara, is studying to become a teacher because of Walch. "She just talked about school and some of her experiences."

Today, Walch continues to play cards, do crossword puzzles and bake. For 40 years, she made 200 gingerbread cookies for trick-or-treaters. This year she broke from tradition and gave out caramel corn and homemade candy to 170 kids.

Walch also loves youngsters.

"She's fantastic," Dudley said. "She cares a lot for people and she's so good with kids. All of my grandkids come here."

Elsie Kessel

Elsie Kessel has no secrets for living a long life.

She's just had the fortune of good health.

Kessel will turn 100 on Nov. 22. An open house for her milestone birthday will be held 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby, where she has been a member for 67 years.

"I thought I'd never reach 100, but I guess I did," Kessel said. "I just lived a normal life and I've been blessed with good health."

"She's had such good health that it doesn't surprise me," added her daughter, Pat Walsh of Libby.

A Libby resident for 74 years, the spry Kessel has lived at Libby Care Center since July 2005. She participates in activities there including the Red Hat Society and likes playing pinochle and watching baseball and basketball on television.

Kessel has a sharp memory and no problem carrying on a conversation. Over the years she's come to need a walker and has experienced a loss of appetite. But that's about it.

She never followed a special diet, nor did she exercise. She tried smoking once and didn't like it. Kessel rarely drank alcohol.

"She had a glass of wine or beer once in a blue moon," Walsh said.

Kessel sang in the church choir well into her 80s, drove until age 92, kept up with her West Oak Street home without help until her mid-90s and remained in that home until she was 98.

She was well-known for her homemade doughnuts and making lefse, rosettes and krumkaka at Christmas.

Three separate falls since reaching her mid 90s resulted in two broken hips and a broken pelvis. That's why Kessel's family moved her to the nursing home.

Born Nov. 22, 1906, in Almira, Wash., Kessel was the sixth of eight children. All have died. Eva - the youngest - was the last to pass one year ago at age 96.

At age 5, Kessel's family moved to Dalton Gardens at Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. Growing up on a farm, Kessel sacked potatoes, picked apples and pitched hay. She lost most of her sight in one eye as a young girl after she was hit with a notebook being tossed around at school.

She married Walt Kessel on Nov. 27, 1929. They moved in 1932 from Spirit Lake, Idaho, to Libby and purchased their home on West Oak Street in 1943; Elsie remained there for 62 years.

Her husband of 55 years was a foreman at the box factory at J. Neils Lumber Co. and St. Regis until his retirement. Walt Kessel died in February 1985.

The Kessels enjoyed spending time outdoors with family, especially having picnics and fishing. Elsie always delighted in catching more fish than her husband.

Elsie Kessel's daughter and son, Richard Kessel, 63, of Fife, Wash., will attend the party. Elsie also has six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.