Barrhead woman celebrates 110th birthday

For her most recent birthday, Jennie Sutherland receivedletters from the premier, the prime minister and the Queen congratulating her on her Oct.4 milestone.

At 110, Sutherlandis one of Alberta's oldest residents.

Before moving to a farm near Barrhead, her parents emigratedfrom Norway to Minnesota in the late 1800s and today, she still knows a few Norwegian phrases, including"gammelkjerring,"a not-so-flattering term for an old woman.

"I guess you could apply that to me," she joked.

Edmonton AM4:49Oldest living Albertan turns 110

Jennie Sutherland just celebrated her 110th birthday in Barrhead. We talk to the great great grandmother, long with her daughter Leona and son Charlie.

Sutherland has seen many changes since she was born in 1906 two world wars, the Great Depression, commercial airplanes, at-home televisions, space travel, computers,the internet.

In 1920, her family arrived in northern Alberta as homesteaders. They travelled by train to Oregon, then by truck to cross the border, then rode on horseback.Then, when the horses were too tired to carry her and her sisters any further, they walked 40 kilometres from Westlock.

She remembershaving a pot of boiled potatoes when they finally arrived.

"Those were best-tasting potatoes I've ever had. We sure enjoyed those potatoes!" she said.

They brought livestock, furniture andeven an organ in a truck wagonto their new home.

For years, there were no roads near the farmand they had to carve notches in the trees to find their route when they would go out with the team and wagon.

Ten children lived along with her parents in a one-room house.

A few years after arriving, Sutherland had a familyof her own and lived on a small farmfrom 1927 to 1957, until the family moved to the town of Barrhead.

She had eight children, including one daughter who died two days after she was born.

Now her grandchildren have grandchildren.

She has 26 grandchildren anda total of129 direct descendants in five generations after her.

Getting older

Over her more than century-long life, Sutherlandhas noticed thechanges in her health. She has arthritis in both hands and she is hard of hearing. She still can walk, but most of the time uses a wheelchair for balance.

On herbirthday, she tapped her toes whileher youngest son Charlie sang and played guitar. But 10 years ago, at her 100th, she danced.

She referredto losing her eyesight as "thepits,"but added"when you can't see very good, you look pretty good."

Close to300 family members attended her most recent party,but there were some noticeable absentees.Her siblings have all died. Her husband William died 29 years ago. Her oldest son Lorne died at 82 from heart failure after she turned 106.

The next generation is thrilled to have her around.Her son Charlie described her as a role model for the younger generations.

At 88, Sutherland's oldest daughter Leona Stockingis a great-great grandmother herself, but can't imagine not having her own mother nearby.

"It's great. I'm so glad she's still here," she said. "There's not many people in their 80s still have their mum around."