Ruth Evelyn (Minisee) Watkins celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 29, 2023, surrounded by friends and family at a Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Brighton, Mich. Ruth has been a member of the Williamston Adventist Church in Williamston, Mich., for 40 plus years.
Ruth was born the second of five children to Raymond and Luella Minisee. In her early years, Ruth loved to play the organ for church service and to entertain guests in her home on Sabbath afternoons. Ruth also loved her dogs and working in her garden. Ruth was raised on a farm on the west side of Michigan. One of many fond memories is when the congregation her parents belonged to bought a church building from another denomination. Ruth's father, with his team of horses, moved the building four or five blocks to a new lot and set it in place.
She has three stepchildren: Janet and (John) Wynn of Indianapolis, Ind.; Earl Watkins (deceased), formally of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; and Jesse and (Ofilia) Watkins, of San Diego, Calif.; two step-grandchildren, Andrew Douglas Watkins of Santa Monica, Calif.; and Johnathan Earl Wynn of Indianapolis, Ind.; and three step-great-grandchildren, Langston, Nina, and Elijah Wynn.
Geraldine “Gerry” Hill celebrated her 100th birthday on Aug. 26, 2023. Friends and family celebrated her milestone on Aug. 6, 2023, at the Gobles Jr. Academy gymnasium in Gobles, Mich. Geraldine has been a member of the Gobles Seventh-day Adventist Church for two years. She has four children: Marge (Lorance) Van Tassel, Allegan, Mich.; Dr. Calvin (Jaime) Hill, Tillamook, Ore.; Brad (Cathy) Hill, Buford, Ga., and Sherrilyn Hill, Lincoln, Neb.; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Gerry was the charge nurse at Berrien General Hospital and worked at Andrews University's Health Services. Later she taught nursing at Kettering College for 13 years.
Gerry and her husband, Raymond, did two terms of mission service in the Philippines (1953-1963) and were among the founders of Mountain View College, where Raymond ran the agriculture program. As a registered nurse, Gerry donated her time to giving medical assistance as needed by the community and delivered babies occasionally. She also ran a homeschool for her children and other children in the mission compound.
Elizabeth (Mangold) Nicolade celebrated her 100th birthday on Aug. 30, 2022, in her home in Chicago. Elizabeth has been a member of the North Shore Adventist Church for 24 years. In 1969, Elizabeth was hired by Illinois Bell and worked there until 1989, well past retirement age. Elizabeth faithfully attended Sabbath School classes and services that she enjoyed so much until a couple of years ago when her memory began to fail. She has four children: Myriam Nicolade, Daisy (Malcolm Tyau) Nicolade, David (Maryla) Nicolade, and James Nicolade, who is her caretaker in Chicago. Elizabeth also is blessed with two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Margaret Wright, a member of Benton Harbor Highland Adventist Church, celebrated her 100th birthday on Feb. 22, 2023. She has served the church as a faithful deaconess for many years. She has four children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Margaret Wright is a living testimony of Exodus 20:12, "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
Clara "Nellie” (Snelling) Johnson, born July 21,1922, celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday, July 24, 2022, with an open house for family and friends at the Urbandale Church fellowship hall. For over 70 years, she has been a member of the Urbandale Church in Michigan. Nellie served in the medical field as an LPN and a nurse’s aide. After her husband's death, Nellie volunteered for hospice for 20+ years and started a food pantry in the Urbandale area. She also worked with other food pantries in the Battle Creek area. Nellie served in this area for 20 years. She and her husband had four children: Patricia (Forest) Walter, Barbara (Rodney) Hyde, Jerry (Marie) Johnson, and Harry (Laurie) Johnson; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Anna (Greavu) Dean celebrated her 101st birthday on February 13, with family and friends at the Brookdale Assisted Living in Holly, Mich., where she is currently living. She has been a member of the Holly Adventist Church in Holly, Mich., for 83 years where she had served as a church clerk, head deaconess, and volunteered in the children’s divisions. Sharing in this celebration with her were her two daughters, Peggy Hoffmeyer and Rosemary Ward, and four grandchildren.
A homemaker who was married to the late Myrle Dean in 1939, they shared their 67 years on their dairy farm in Holly.
Edna Dodge, pictured in pink chair with her children and their spouses, was born September 8, 1921, in Sparta, Wis., but moved to spring Lake, Mich., at the age of one. . . . It was while attending the Fisher School on Moreland Avenue (for grades four through eight) that she met her husband-to-be, Kenneth Dodge. They were married July 3, 1940. She didn’t attend high school but, once her five children were raised, she went to Spring Lake Adult Education and, although a challenge, received her high school diploma in 1975. She enjoyed seeing her children get married and now has 16 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren.
Edna has been a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for 82 years. For 60 of those years, she played piano Sabbath School and church. She also worked in the children’s department and served as treasurer for 38 years.
She always enjoyed growing flowers in and outside her home, especially roses and tulips. Sewing was one of her hobbies and she loved playing her piano right up until this past year. One thing she always enjoyed was having her Christmas holidays filled with having all the families come home to be together. When asked what has allowed her to live so long, she said she “doesn’t know for sure,” but does credit eating right, being a Christian, and spending time with friends and loved ones.
With her eyesight almost gone, it is hard for her to enjoy watching television or seeing to read, but she sure enjoyed celebrating her 100th birthday on September 5 with friends and family, followed by the special time with her immediate family on September 8 to mark the 100 years.
MaryEtta Johnson of the Hammond Church in Hammond, Ind., celebrated her 100th birthday with a luncheon and birthday party after the church’s regular worship service on Saturday, September 11. Relatives traveled from as far away as Louisiana to attend the celebration that honored the life and accomplishments of the new centurion. Living in East Chicago, she has been an elder at the Hammond Church for more than 20 years. She was previously a Sabbath School leader at the Bethel Church in East Chicago.
Bettye (McGlothlin) GOLDSMITH celebrated her 100th birthday on June 27, 2021 (which is her birthdate) with a surprise party at her church. A member of the Huntingburg Church (Huntingburg, Ind.) for 36 years, she also worked as a registered nurse for 36 years, missing only one day of work in that entire time. In 1985, at the age of 64, she was baptized on the same day as her mother, Aleene. She served her church in various roles over the years but, mostly, as an example of a humble, God-loving person.
VIRGINIA DUNDER of Cicero, Ind., celebrated her 100th birthday on February 15 with three generations of her family. She was thrilled to have reached her centennial birthday. “I want to make it to 115!” she laughed. Always active, either baking, organizing, canning or cleaning, she never sits long. “Work keeps me young.”
Born in Frankton, Ind., Virginia was the oldest of six children. She married George Dunder in 1950 and had three sons: Terrance (who lives in Washington State); Neal (who lives with her); and Roger (who lives in Africa). With a shared passion to do the Lord’s work, the family traveled by boat to Africa in 1964. Together the family shared many adventures around the world – climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, explored the Great Pyramids, and walked the streets of Jerusalem. Ten years later, they returned to Cicero where Virginia has attended the Cicero Church for 47 years.
ANNA (GREAVU) DEAN was born on Sunday, Feb. 13, 1921, and celebrated her 100th birthday on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, with a card shower and birthday treats at the Brookdale Assisted Living Center, in Holly, Mich., where she is presenting living. She is a member of the Holly Church in Holly where she has served in some capacity all of her life, be it church clerk, in the children’s divisions, VBS or head deaconess.
A homemaker who was married to the late Myrle Dean in 1939, they shared their 67 years on their dairy farm in Holly.
DOROTHY DORCAS (O’NEAL) WHITE celebrated her 100th birthday with a virtual family celebration on Sunday, Jan. 31. 2021, at her home in Calumet Park, Ill. Born on January 31, 1921, she is a 46-year member of the Beacon of Joy Church in Chicago.
Married to the late Howard Dennis White in 1939, Dorothy has spent a lifetime serving and teaching children in her church and in early childhood education as her career. Sharing in this celebration were her eight children: Howard Jr., Robert, Terry, Raymond, Carmen, Daniel, Gale-Marie and Lynette, plus many others.
MILDRED RIEN SOLSTAD celebrated her 100th birthday on October 11, 2020, with treats, celebrated with treats, cards, gifts, calls and visits with her friends and family at her home in Menomonie, Wis. She has been a member of the Menomonie Church for nine years.
Married to the late Arnold Solstad in 1940, Millie enjoyed a life that included travel to five continents and still loves to share her experiences of living in many different cultures. Millie has four children: Edward and late Pat (Stanley) Solstad of Minneapolis, Minn., Mary Solstad and late spouse Paul Kriner of Palmer, Alas., late John and Pam Solstad of Roseville, Minn., and Ron Solstad of Anchorage, Alas. She also has two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
ARTHUR COVELL celebrated his 100th birthday on Feb. 23, 2019, with a special service at the Traverse City (Mich) Church. He was a member of the Traverse City Church for 34 years.
Arthur was married to Mary Elizabeth Fink. Arthur has been a pastor for Coldwater, Jackson, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing. Pastor Art continues to minister at 100 by contributing to the Sabbath School lesson and his support of the Bible-in-a-Year program, which points to the importance of the study of God’s Word.
Arthur has three children: Douglas Covell of Florida; Dennis and Ann Covell of Traverse City; Debra Covell (deceased); six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
