Lifelong Big Lake resident Gleva Creswell Berndt was born Jan. 4, 1920 and celebrated 101 years earlier this week with her family. They enjoyed fruitcake - an old time family favorite.

Woodrow Wilson was in the White House when Gleva was born. Gleva’s father drove horse and buggy for a doctor who made house calls in Aberdeen, SD when she was a child. Once Gleva got married in 1940, she and her husband left Aberdeen, SD and headed for New York (fall of 1950), but they had to stop in Sherburne County because Gleva was expecting a baby and her doctor advised her not to travel until the baby was born. Gleva and her husband ended up staying in Big Lake  in 1950 and raised four children. Gleva has called Big Lake her home for over 70 years. 

Despite challenging times in over 100 years of living, Gleva maintains an amazing attitude and credits her faith in God for seeing her through very difficult times over the past 10 decades. Gleva considers the COVID pandemic just a blip on the radar. When asked for advice about living a rewarding life, Gleva says: “Just keep on living and enjoy it!”