Elsie Myhran, a resident at the Preeceville Personal Care Home celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends on March 13.
Willie Jakubowski and company provided musical entertainment followed by a lunch and cake with ice cream.
Myhran was born to Martin and Anna Swanson on the family farm located 4 1/2 miles west of Preeceville on March 13, 1919. She attended Checkow School but at the age of 14 years she was forced to quit to help out on the family farm as her mother had been in a horse and buggy accident. "I took over the cooking, cleaning and helping out on the farm while my mother recovered," said Myhran.
At 16 years of age she left the family farm to seek employment. She began working for Henry Rosaasen, milking cows and cooking meals for $10 per month. "I wanted to quit after a few years but my boss said I had to find a replacement who could bake bread as good as I could before he would pay me,鈥� she said.
Myhran traveled by train to Toronto shortly thereafter, and worked numerous jobs. She got married to Lawrence Myhran on August 11, 1944 and remained in Toronto while her husband went to war overseas. When he returned the couple lived in Toronto for a brief time and then moved back to Preeceville.
They had three children and farmed for 11 years before they packed up everyone and set out by automobile back to Toronto where they worked for a living. Myhran also traveled to British Columbia later in her life to spend some time with her sister before moving back to Preeceville to retire. She is currently a resident at the Preeceville Personal Care Home.
"I have seen many changes in the world and challenges in my own life and turning 100 means just another day for me," Myhran concluded.
