Beckmann celebrates century mark

Doris Beckmann of New Richland marked birthday number 100 on Saturday during a celebration with family and friends.

Born June 12, 1925, Beckmann grew up in Waseca County and went to school in Freeborn, graduating in 1942. Although she is now 100, Beckmann said she still feels 99.

The trick to living so long?

“The kids would say I eat ice cream a lot.”

Despite her five daughters believing ice cream is the trick to staying young, Beckmann claims her love for plain vanilla ice cream and its frequent consumption only started the last couple of years.

Sitting in front of her birthday banner in a packed garage of family and friends, Beckmann was the light of the party, laughing and smiling as the line of people moved through to wish her happy birthday and talk as old friends.

“They said I can’t move from here,” Beckmann laughed.

Beckmann’s five daughters, Charlene Chevalier, Valerie Giles, Kayla Root, Eileen Borchert and Joleen Oterson and their families were all present to celebrate.

“It’s a blessing,” Giles said, “that she still remembers.”

After high school, Beckmann said she babysat and did other things before being married in 1945 to Herbert Beckmann when she was 19. Two weeks after their marriage, Herbert left to fight in World War II.

When he returned, the couple spent a lot of time farming and helping to build and manage the American Legion in New Richland. Doris and Herbert were together 65 years before he died in 2010 of Alzheimer’s Disease.

“She always worked so hard for us five girls. Out on the farm and gardens, she worked hard all her life,” Giles said.

Beckmann now has 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

A few of her grandkids compiled a list for her birthday party titled, “What has Grandma Doris lived through?” Some things on that list include the Great Migration, mass automobile manufacturing, the adoption of the National Anthem, the first federal minimum wage of 25 cents and the creation of the United Nations. She has lived through five British monarchs, nine popes and 17 presidents.

Beckmann’s grandson Ryan Giles named two prominent aspects of Grandma Doris’s character: she will always speak her mind and never forgets a family member’s birthday, no matter who it is.

“She doesn’t forget a birthday. A $5 bill in the card. I don’t remember my cousins’ birthdays, but she’s got all those down. She never forgets,” Ryan Giles said.

Beckmann now lives in Royal Villa in New Richland; she continues to cook for herself and bake.

“Could never go to her house without treats. She still does her baking,” Ryan Giles said.

Happy Birthday, Doris Beckmann.