A party 100 years in the making

 One hundred years - it’s a milestone few attain, and even fewer who are still in possession of the wit and wisdom of someone like Mildred Weilenman. She will celebrate her 100th birthday on Tuesday, April 28.

She was born Mildred McCreary in 1915, here in Red Oak. 

“My dad was a painter and wall-paperer, and my mother was a homemaker,” she recalled. “I had one brother, Lyle. We lived in the country for a while, near the Stennett corner, and I went to a one-room schoolhouse first, then later here in Red Oak. 

She fondly recalls some of her favrotie childhood activities.

 “Well, I liked to ride a coaster wagon, and roller skate and climb trees. I guess I was kind of a tomboy. Mostly, we had good neighbors and got along with them fine, but there was this one lady who didn’t like kids too much, and when I rode my wagon or skates past her house, she’d come out and stare. So I rode past her house as often as I could.”

After high school, Mildred worked at a number of places, among them, Woolworth and J.C. Penney. 

“I also waited tables, whatever I could do to make money,” she said.

“I helped out at home, too. Grandma was an invalid - arthritis or rheumatism or something like that, and I helped take care of her. I learned a lot that way.” 

Mildred learned to play the piano and the organ, and clarinet in the school band. She probably learned to sew from her grandmother, who had the first Singer sewing machine in Montgomery County, a machine now on display at the Montgomery County History Center.

She doesn’t remember exactly how she met her husband Byron, but thinks it was probably at a dance.

“We both loved to dance,” she said. “Polka,  waltz, two-step, schottische, varsovienne, square dance, we did them all.”

Byron was a Red Oak boy, too.

While still newlyweds, Mildred and Byron moved to Washington, along with Mildred’s parents. Byron worked at a pulp mill.

“Washington is a beautiful state,” she said. “When I looked out our window, I could see Mt. Ranier, and we were pretty close to the ocean. 

“Once, we went camping without a tent, and when we woke up in the morning, we saw these big bear tracks - he had passed right by us! And another time we slept on the sand, and I can tell you one thing, don’t sleep on the sand all night, it’s hard as rock in the morning.”

While living in Washington, their only child Kathi was born. After Washington, they moved to Colorado.

“There was a lake north of Ft. Collins where we used to feed the geese and ducks. I like anything like that.”

They moved back to Red Oak when Kathi was about four years old. Kathi recalled that their first home in Red Oak, for a couple of years, was in Kelly Park in what was commonly known as “C. C. Camps”, tin buildings that resembled barracks.

“Then we moved in with my parents on High Street when Dad got sick,” said Mildred. “My dad died and we went on living there.”

Mildred has been a busy lady through the years. She worked for Murphy Calendar Company for 35 years, where she was a supervisor in charge of the order department. She was a member of the Methodist Church all her life, president of the Methodist Women for 16 years, in charge of the primary department of Sunday School, sang in the choir and rang bells. 

“It was my mother’s memorial money that helped start the bell choir,” she recalled.

She belonged to the Rebekah and Odd Fellow’s lodge and the Monday Club.

“I was in charge of Hysham House for a long time, and that was a lot of work. But I enjoyed it.” she said.

Byron died in 1965, and a few years later Mildred moved to a house on 5th and Corning, where she remained until she was 98. She now resides at the Red Oak Health Care Community, where she was elected Valentine’s Day Queen this year. 

Mildred still likes to get out and about. She enjoys performances at the Wilson Center, and is looking forward to visiting the zoo this summer with her family. Archer lives in Red Oak, as do her two grandchildren Shelly Welbon and Dusty Archer. She also has three great-grandchildren.

Mildred had a candid response to what her analysis of today’s world is. “It’s a mess,” she replied. “I don’t know what’s the matter with these big shots, they don’t seem to know what they should do. They should just ask me!” she said with a laugh.

And what did she think could be done to make Red Oak better? “They should listen to the people more.” she said.

An open house will be held at the Red Oak Health Care Community, 1600 Summit, on Saturday, May 2 from 2 - 4 p.m. in honor of Mildred’s special birthday.