|
|
|
Farlington —
The Farlington United Methodist Church fellowship hall holds a lot of people, and it was pretty nearly full Sunday for the 100th birthday celebration of Helen Dumm, Girard.
The daughter of Carl and Emma Ausemus, she was born on Jan. 13, 1913.
According to an informal count, there were at least 110 present, and most were Dumm’s relatives, including her three surviving daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, etc.
“A good deal of the family is here, including some of her nieces and nephews,” said daughter Joan DeGarmo, Girard.
Dumm has 21 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, 50 great-great-grandchidren and one great-great-great-grandchild. Figures weren’t available on how many nieces and nephews she has, but Dumm is one of 11 children.
“There were five boys and six girls, and one boy and three girls are still living,” said her brother, Chester “Chet” Ausemus, 92, Hepler.
He said that the children grew up on a farm and did their share of chores.
“We milked chows,” Ausemus said. “We raised hogs, sheet, chickens, ducks and geese, and turkeys once in a while, but not too much.”
Dumm said that she has lived in three places during the past century, Hiattville, Farlington and now Girard.
Her life has spanned some notable periods of American history.
“One time it was real dry and there was dust everywhere, in 1936,” Dumm said. “In the Depression the banks all went out and nobody had any money. It was very hard times.”
She was married first to James Russell, then to Ed Brinkman, who operated a greenhouse in Girard, and last to Glenn Dumm.
“I worked in the greenhouse for 30 years,” Dumm said.
“She ran the greenhouse after her husband died,” DeGarmo added.
Dumm is the mother of five daughters. Maxine Kichler and Pearl Steffens are both deceased. Her surviving daughters, all present for her birthday, are Wilma Trout, Liberal, Mo., Viola Boggs, Girard, and DeGarmo.
She remains active and alert, and enjoyed seeing so many of her loved ones at the birthday dinner and party.
Dumm can’t think of any special reasons for her long life, though the fact that she still has living siblings indicates some good genes in her family.
“I’ve just lived a good life,” she said.
The Farlington United Methodist Church fellowship hall holds a lot of people, and it was pretty nearly full Sunday for the 100th birthday celebration of Helen Dumm, Girard.
The daughter of Carl and Emma Ausemus, she was born on Jan. 13, 1913.
According to an informal count, there were at least 110 present, and most were Dumm’s relatives, including her three surviving daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, etc.
“A good deal of the family is here, including some of her nieces and nephews,” said daughter Joan DeGarmo, Girard.
Dumm has 21 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, 50 great-great-grandchidren and one great-great-great-grandchild. Figures weren’t available on how many nieces and nephews she has, but Dumm is one of 11 children.
“There were five boys and six girls, and one boy and three girls are still living,” said her brother, Chester “Chet” Ausemus, 92, Hepler.
He said that the children grew up on a farm and did their share of chores.
“We milked chows,” Ausemus said. “We raised hogs, sheet, chickens, ducks and geese, and turkeys once in a while, but not too much.”
Dumm said that she has lived in three places during the past century, Hiattville, Farlington and now Girard.
Her life has spanned some notable periods of American history.
“One time it was real dry and there was dust everywhere, in 1936,” Dumm said. “In the Depression the banks all went out and nobody had any money. It was very hard times.”
She was married first to James Russell, then to Ed Brinkman, who operated a greenhouse in Girard, and last to Glenn Dumm.
“I worked in the greenhouse for 30 years,” Dumm said.
“She ran the greenhouse after her husband died,” DeGarmo added.
Dumm is the mother of five daughters. Maxine Kichler and Pearl Steffens are both deceased. Her surviving daughters, all present for her birthday, are Wilma Trout, Liberal, Mo., Viola Boggs, Girard, and DeGarmo.
She remains active and alert, and enjoyed seeing so many of her loved ones at the birthday dinner and party.
Dumm can’t think of any special reasons for her long life, though the fact that she still has living siblings indicates some good genes in her family.
“I’ve just lived a good life,” she said.
