By Brenda Sexton

The Courier-Herald

&#8220It's kind of a long story,” Martha Thovson smiles slyly as she recalls snippets from her past.

Thovson was born Nov. 26, 1905, in Minnesota. She plans to celebrate her 100th birthday that same day with friends and family at an open house at Enumclaw's Living Court, where she currently resides.

For her age, Thovson is in good health, fine spirits and, mentally, sharp as a tack.

&#8220If it wasn't for a worn out hip she'd feel like a million bucks,” daughter Betty Emmerton said.

Thovson was born in Minnesota to German immigrants, but lived much of her life in the upper Midwest in North and South Dakota.

&#8220I remember my first car ride,” Thovson said. She figures she was around 5 years old when someone brought one by the house. She rode in the rumble seat. &#8220I remember that car ride. That was something special, most people didn't have cars.”

That's not all she remembers. A couple of years later, she survived typhoid fever.

&#8220I remember we went to a Christmas program. I was 7. The next day I had a terrible headache, that's how it started.”

She recalls the doctor came out to the house in a sleigh.

She married Oscar Sept. 30, 1925, and together they farmed in South Dakota during the Depression.

&#8220We never went hungry, but a lot of people did. They were hard times,” she said.

Oscar died at the age of 77. For 14 years, Thovson lived with her brother in South Dakota. Later, she moved to this area to be near her children.

She has two children. She also lost twins who died at 9 months of age. She has seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

Thovson said there is no secret to her longevity, although she did note she never smoked or drank and she has many good friends.

&#8220I didn't think I'd ever live this long,” she laughs. &#8220I was a person that was satisfied anywhere.”

Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com.