Centennial party at Bethlehem Lutheran Oct. 12

By Robert Williams

Editor

At 11-years-old, Arlice “Franklin” Wirth lost her mother and an infant brother in an automobile and train accident in Frazee, but as her centennial birthday approaches, Arlice looks back on her life with a sense of humor and gratitude.  ¶  Arlice was born in 1924 and raised in rural Frazee. She attended Long Lake School District No. 227, completing first through eighth grade. She rode her horse to school all year round.  ¶  “That’s not there no more,” she said. “I went to Frazee school one year in fourth grade because I stayed with my aunt Dorothy and it was her last year of high school.”  ¶  There were three students in Arlice’s graduating class.  ¶  “I think I’m the only one left of that class,” she laughed.  ¶  After school, Arlice moved to Moorhead at the age of 15 to work in housekeeping where she made $2.50 per week plus room and board.  ¶  “I lied about my age,” she said.  ¶  To work legally, kids had to be at least 16. Arlice used her money to go across the bridge to Fargo for fun.

“You could roller skate for a dollar,” she said.

Wirth would travel back and forth from Moorhead to Frazee, occasionally attending one of the many dances in the area. Traveling to dances was ritualistic in the mid 20th century.

“We went all over,” said Arlice. “There was Spruce Grove and a dance hall at Perry’s. Those were the good ol’ days. Hurry up, do chores, get cleaned up and go dancing!”

At one particular dance, she met a man named Edward Wirth.

“That was a funny deal,” she said. “There was another girl that everyone thought he was going to marry. I was sitting over here alone and he came and asked me to dance and I didn’t want to dance. He took her home and came back and took me home.”

Ed courted Arlice for over a year.

“I went back to Moorhead and worked,” she said.

Ed traveled to Moorhead with his friend Benny to see Arlice and Laurine Anderson and the couples went on double dates.

Eventually, Ed’s efforts were rewarded and Arlice moved back to Frazee and married him in 1942.

When asked for specifics about the proposal, Arlice laughed and said, “I don’t know.”

The couple lived with Ed’s parents initially, before moving to Arlice’s father’s farm while he took a break from farming. When he returned, they farmed near Vergas until 1948.

The first of three sons, Terry, was born August 6, 1948, in Perham, and the family moved to a farm in Silver Leaf Township three months later.

“I drove tractor; I loved riding horses and all that stuff. We had cattle and pigs mostly,” Arlice said. “Ed didn’t like chickens, anything with feathers.”

Arlice did not gloss over the facts when asked what her jobs were on the farm.

“Everything,” she said. 

She milked cows her entire life until she retired from farming, but she preferred the more adventurous side of farming.

“Ride the four-wheeler and the snowmobile,” she said.

Cruising around was something Arlice did nearly her entire life. She just recently let her driver’s license expire when she turned 99 in 2023.

The couple saw big changes on the farm over half a century, beginning by doing nearly every task and chore by hand to moving into more automated farming over time.

“Yeah, there was a big change. When we farmed over by Vergas we didn’t have electricity, just kerosene lamps, but when we moved up here we had electricity,” she said. 

The Wirths saw plenty of good and lean years farming for 50 years.

“There were good years and bad; one year grasshoppers got everything and the prices were up and down,” Arlice said. “Ed kept things going. We didn’t always agree on everything.”

The couple added two more sons to the family Kelly and Randy. Terry and Kelly moved off the farm after graduating from school, while the youngest, Randy, stayed on the farm and still lives there today.

“Same thing with ­the house on the farm is the same age I am,” Arlice said.

Arlice attributes working on the farm as part of her good health and longevity. At almost 100, she is articulate, quick-witted and funny, still mobile with a bit of a bad leg, and has been living on her own at Frazee Senior Villa since 2007.

“I take it day-by-day and see what the good Lord has in store for me,” she said.

Leaving the farm was an easy transition for Arlice and she remains a very social person. Weekly, she hosts a card party with her friends. 

Reaching her 100th birthday is a mild surprise.

“We had a small party last year for her 99th,” said daughter-in-law Julie Wirth.

“That was enough!” laughed Arlice.

“We didn’t think she’d make 100 and here we are!” said Julie.

Arlice has been healthy most of her life, including the decade that spanned her 90’s. Her secret to longevity is simple.

“Just behave,” she laughed.

Arlice has avoided any hospital stays and still lives comfortably on her own.

“I never smoked; well, I did a couple times just to make Ed mad because he chewed,” she laughed. “I had a few beers, but I never got drunk.”

Ed passed away May 8, 1998 at the age of 83. One of the consistent things the couple did together was square dance every Sunday. When asking Arlice what her favorite hobbies were they read nearly identical to Ed’s list in his obituary: His interests included driving tractor, ice fishing, square dancing, playing cards and visiting with family and friends.

“In those days, people visited, went and played cards,” she said. “My grandma Franklin loved to play cards.”

Arlice also lost her first son Terry at the age of 67 on October 11, 2015, one day before her 91st birthday.

Faith has been an important aspect of Arlice’s life. She is the eldest member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church congregation, where she was baptized and confirmed.

Her wedding with Ed was not at Bethlehem, instead it was held at the home of Reverend Otto Richter’s because the church did not have a minister at the time.

Recalling that special day gave Arlice an audible giggle.

“It was the minister’s house and his brother Elmer and his wife were our attendants,” said Arlice. “Elmer got too much wine and he passed out.”

Their wedding dance was held upstairs in the Baer building. From their union, Arlice has gotten to see a large portion of her family tree thanks to her three sons. Ed and Arlice had seven grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren and “four great-great little boys.”

Arlice’s favorite milestones were the weddings of her three sons and relating to her grandchildren all of the memories and stories from the past century.

As birthday 100 approaches, Arlice finally gives in, allowing her family to plan a special party.

“The only thing I got is a few marbles left,” she said.

Despite her hesitancy for party 100, Arlice stated it is still exciting to get up each morning.

“Oh yeah, see what the day brings,” she laughed.

The special day is this coming weekend.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is hosting Arlice’s actual 100th birthday on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 1:30-4 p.m.