Ecumen Century Club: Happy 100th Birthday Rosemarie Hedtke
Ecumen honors Rosemarie Hedtke, a resident of Ecumen of Litchfield, who is 100.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 102nd Birthday Lecil Arends
Ecumen honors Lecil Arends, a resident of Ecumen Meadows in Worthington, who is 102.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 105th Birthday Pearl Anderson
Ecumen honors Pearl Anderson, who is 105.
Born: April 14, 1911, in Boyd, Minn.
Residence: Ecumen North Branch.
Hobbies/Interests: Sewing, visiting and volunteering.
Family: Married to Philip, now deceased, for 58 years. Two children, 6 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren.
Secrets of Longevity: No smoking or drinking, a healthy diet, staying active and God’s will.
Interesting Facts: Graduated from college with a degree in journalism, won a national sewing contest and won an “11 Who Care” outstanding volunteer award in 2004 from KARE-11 TV.
Congratulations on your 105th birthday, Pearl! Ecumen honors you.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 102nd Birthday Lisolette (Lisa) Erickson
Ecumen honors Lisolette (Lisa) Erickson, a resident of Ecumen Lakeshore in Duluth, who is 102.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 102nd Birthday Adele Strike
Ecumen honors Adele Strike, a resident of Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, Minn., who is 102.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 100th Birthday Elaine Altstatt
Ecumen honors Elaine Altstatt, a resident of Ecumen Centennial House, who is 100.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 100th Birthday John Scanlan
Ecumen honors John Scanlan, a resident of Ecumen Lakeview Commons, who is 100.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 103rd Birthday Ruth Knapp
Ecumen honors Ruth Knapp, who is 103.
Born: March 29, 1913, in Thief River Falls, Minn.
Residence: Ecumen Detroit Lakes in Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Hobbies/Interests: Bowling, playing bingo, reading, visiting, music events and playing Rummikub.
Family: Married for 30 years. Now widowed. No children.
Secrets of Longevity: “I am always in good spirits and enjoy keeping active throughout the day with activities.
Occupation: Waitress.
Interesting Facts: Ruth is the oldest resident at Ecumen Detroit Lakes’ nursing home.
Congratulations on your 103rd birthday, Ruth! Ecumen honors you.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 106th Birthday Verna Bloom
Everybody wants to know Verna Bloom’s secret. She’ll tell you being 106 years old “surprises” her because she has no big secrets to longevity — except maybe a positive attitude.
“Every day is a gift from God,” Verna is fond of saying. 
The staff at Ecumen-managed Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park, Minn., where Verna lives, has some insight into her longevity. They say she is always smiling and always thinking about and caring for others.
Randi Handegaard, the activity director at Sunnyside, says Verna participates in all the community events at Sunnyside and is interested in everything around her. “She has held the bowling ‘ traveling trophy’ several weeks in a row,” Randi says, “and she continues to crochet and participates in the house writer’s guild.”
Verna was born on a farm near Audubon, Minn., in Becker County, March 22, 1910, and was one of eight children. Growing up, she milked cows and worked around the family farm.
Verna met her husband Willard, nicknamed “Chubby,” when she was 22. He would come to Lake Park on his motorcycle and take her on rides. When she was 24 they got married and had two children.
She and Willard owned a hardware store in Lake Park, where she was the manager. She also cut and styled hair for many years and enjoyed playing the piano.
When she was in her 70s, after Willard died, she would go to Chicago for extended periods to babysit for her grandchildren, who gave her the nickname “Big V.” She is very proud of her family.
Verna stays active crocheting baby blankets for her great-great grandkids, and she never misses a Friday Bingo game. And she is always smiling.
Ecumen honors Verna Bloom. Happy 106th Birthday.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 100th Birthday Grace Larson
Ecumen honors Grace Larson, a resident of Clarkfield Care Center, who is 100.