By Brenda Sexton
The Courier-Herald
“And many more…” someone tagged on to the end of Beulah Almquist's “Happy Birthday” song at Enumclaw Evergreen Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.
Almquist, who lived most of her life in Carbonado, turned 104 years old Oct. 26. Friends and family members turned out to celebrate with cake, ice cream, flowers and balloons.
Almquist, who was born in 1901, is in relatively good health.
When Almquist turned 100 years old, she told Carbonado school students eating vegetables and attending church were a couple of the secrets to her long life. She told the children how she was born in southern Illinois and moved to Seattle when she was about 9. Her mother and father lived in Carbonado since 1922. Her father was a coal miner. Almquist called Carbonado home from 1959 until she moved out of her house at the age of 100. Friends and family said, she kept her yard up gardening until she was 80.
Longtime friend Marion Mills said Almquist is a “neat, positive woman.”
“Not everyone has a 104-year-old that's her best friend,” Mills said.
Almquist is the second 104-year-old resident in the past several years at the Enumclaw nursing home. Ila Johnson was the last.
“I feel so blessed to have known these ladies,” said Beth Sprau, the nursing home's activities director.
