Irene Toverud celebrates 100th with family and friends

Irene Toverud’s family gave her a special celebration on her 100th birthday with a large gathering of friends and relatives Saturday, Aug. 18 at the Golden Valley Lutheran Church.

“I enjoyed every minute of it,” said Irene later at her residence in Vialta Lodge. She was especially happy that so many people came from near and far to help her mark such a milestone occasion in her life. Irene was also given a birthday party at Vialta the previous day so all her friends there could give their good wishes.

At the church on Saturday, oldest daughter Shirley Pobuda said: “We are here today to celebrate a milestone reached by Mom. Never did I imagine that I, at 74, would be standing up here celebrating your 100th. Amazing. We are so blessed and happy that you are able to be with us to celebrate this day.

“So all of your family wishes you all the best and hope you enjoy your birthday as we progress along.” Then she read a history of her mother’s life recounting her earliest days on the farm with her parents and siblings in the Lornedale area northeast of Viking.

In 1924, Irene started attending Lornedale School and one cherished memory was the day her father gave her a piano purchased at a local auction. From then on, she would be part of the events in her local community playing the piano for everyone.

That’s because she was a “very community minded person” from her earliest days and loved to volunteer, even in the days of the one room school, said Shirley. “She was always involved in community activities, providing music on the piano anytime, helping organize events, one of the charter members of the Rosegarland W.I. when it was organized in 1945, a member for 45 years until it disbanded.”

After marrying husband Alf, a local farmer, the couple moved to the nearby area of Rosegarland just eight miles from her family’s original homestead. There they built up their farm from scratch while raising a family of four girls – Shirley and Lynn born in the 1940’s, and Karen and Andrea arriving later in 1959 and 1961.

Irene has been further blessed with the arrival over the years of 13 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

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Patricia Harcourt
Editor