Resident Betty Streifling Celebrates 102 Birthday

Linda Valley Villa resident Betty Streifling celebrated 102 years of life on Friday, Aug. 28 with family, friends and staff at Linda Valley Villa to celebrate the momentous occasion. Currently a Villa resident, Streifling continues to live a healthy and happy lifestyle, credited to a vegetarian diet, the daily exercise program and socialization at Linda Valley Villa. In her free time, Streifling loves taking walks every morning, knitting and spending time with her family. Streifling was born over 100 years ago to parents Ernestine and Fredrick Sieg. She was their eighth child. Five more children were born before the family was complete. The Siegs were farmers living in Manitoba, Canada. When asked about some childhood details, Streifling answered, “One hundred years is a long time to live and you can’t store it all.” That said, her mind is sharp for any age! Streifling often asks Villa staff members their names and then usually remembers and uses those name in her cheery greeting as she meets staff in the Villa hallways. Streifling was a colporteur for several years before meeting her husband. She described getting ready for a week of canvassing the scattered farm homes. Strefiling's transportation? Horseback. One day, she received a very cordial welcome from an elderly lady at an isolated farmhouse. When Streifling arrived, the lady excitedly called to her son, “John, she’s here!” Streifling was excited to have such a positive response from a home where she hoped and prayed she’d sell the Modern Medical Counselor or other books or periodicals. Streifling waited - and waited some more - while wondering what was taking John such a long time to respond to his mother’s call! When he came, dressed in shirt and suit, his freshly shaved face was aglow with expectation. She was delighted to have a potential customer excited about seeing her book. He took her hands and said, “I’m so glad to see you.” Streifling responded, “I’m glad you want to buy my book!” John's face fell and he hurriedly left the room. His mother then explained to Streifling, “We thought you were the mail order bride he requested two weeks ago.” Streifling wasn’t to marry John, and met her future husband, Walter, while attending Walla Walla College. Betty and Walter were married in 1936. When Walter graduated from ministerial, the couple moved to the Alberta Conference in Canada. In 1960 they moved to Oregon, where Walter pastored churches for 10 years. Streifling remembers helping cook for the 1,500 people attending the camp meetings. Walter built churches wherever he went – spiritually and physically. And Betty was right there beside him, helping in so many different ways. The beautiful handmade furniture in STreifling's apartment is a tribute to her husband’s skill as a carpenter. This devoted father duplicated furniture pieces their children fell in love with! Betty and Walter had two sons and one daughter. Only one son remains – the other two died of cancers in their forties. Streifling speaks lovingly of her attorney son and his wife, Debbie, who live nearby. They are so attentive. She has five grandchildren in all. Walter died in 1982 while they were living in Yucaipa, Calif. Streifling can be found in exercise classes five days a week and going for long walks outside the Villa too. She says she inherited longevity from her mother (who missed becoming 100 years old by three weeks). “Reaching 100 is a privilege not granted to many. God has been very good to me,” Streifling said. Streifling is the first resident to move into the Villa at 100 years of age! And on Aug. 28, Betty turned 102 years young! The family expressed their sincere gratitude to the staff at Linda Valley Villa for caring so much about making her birthday special. The Villa's Executive Director, Roni Zuluaga, said they were happy to help Streifling celebrate her 102nd birthday at The Villa. “It’s not every day that we are able to meet or celebrate such a milestone with someone. We were delighted to do this,” said Zuluaga, who added that her team is always happy to offer residents happy moments on their birthdays because they a part of The Villa family.