World War I was being fought, the British oceanliner Lusitania was sunk by the Germans, the one millionth Ford automobile rolled off the assembly line, stamps cost 2¢ and Woodrow Wilson was President in the year 1915.

Oh, and Jean Peterson came into the world on April 18 of that year.

Just this past month, she celebrated her 100th birthday.

Jean grew up and eventually married a man named Herbert Peterson and they settled into a home in Grey Eagle, MN. For years throughout their marriage, they lived without children until 1957 when they welcomed their first and only child — Gloria — into the world. 

Jean was 42 and Herb 53 when they became parents, so for Gloria, to have parents much older than her friends’ parents while she attended school was a little out of the ordinary.

“I grew up learning to have an appreciation for older people since I hung out with my parents’ friends a lot,” said Gloria.

 

The Peterson home was always full of activity, Gloria says, as her mom would play the piano (learned by ear) and play lots of music for her and Herb’s friends and Gloria’s friends.

 

“Mom has always been a go-getter and didn’t sit still very long,” says Gloria. “She enjoyed a good joke and has a great sense of humor.”

 

Jean was very involved in the school PTA when Gloria was younger and she also sang in the church choir. Though she suffered from health issues at mid-life, her health nowadays is considered very well for someone who just reached the century mark.

 

Jean is currently living in the Memory Cottages at the Good Shepherd Community that offers people with memory loss a warm, secure home environment. Herb died in 1987.

 

“She likes to tease and have fun with the people there and still plays the piano for the residents and staff,” Gloria said of Jean.

 

For Jean’s birthday, one of Gloria’s daughters and her two kids picked up grandma and drove her to Gloria’s other daughter’s home in Tioga, ND. There, Jean celebrated her birthday with her grandchildren and four great-grandchildren in the small town of Williams County for the long weekend.

 

She’s always loved road trips,” Gloria says.

 

The following Monday, Jean was celebrated by family, friends and staff at Good Shepherd where she was presented with a huge yellow and pink cake depicting her incredible accomplishment.

 

“My mom has always been a caring, compassionate woman and she is so loving to me and my family’s family,” said Gloria. “I’m so happy to see her reach her 100th birthday and to celebrate it with her grandkids and great grandkids.”

 

Since Jean’s birth in 1915, The U.S. nation has seen another World War, 16 presidents come and go and the cost of stamps rise to today’s 48¢.  Prohibition came and went, the great depression occurred, the Korean and Vietnam wars manifested, the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated and Watergate brought down a President. 

 

That’s a lot of history seen through one woman’s eyes.

 

And by reaching her 100th birthday, Jean is making history herself.

 

A staff member at Good Shepherd asked Jean what her secret to her long life is and Jean answered, “I don’t know. Just keep going and never give up.”