Delvina Dahlheimer, 113; One of the Oldest People in the World
Delvina Dahlheimer, 113, believed to be Minnesota’s oldest resident and one of the oldest people in the world, died Wednesday at a nursing home in Elk River, Minn.
The daughter of French-Canadian settlers who came to Minnesota in the mid-19th century, Dahlheimer, whose maiden name was Morrisette, was born on Dec. 31, 1888, on a small farm in Otsego Township, south of Elk River.
She was married to Phillip Dahlheimer for more than 60 years, and was a widow for almost 30 years. Her husband was 85 when he died.
Delvina and Phillip Dahlheimer raised seven children, who in turn produced 34 grandchildren, 102 great-grandchildren and 65 great-great-grandchildren.
At 100, she still picked her own berries and climbed a stepladder to wash windows, her children said. For her centennial birthday, she made herself a party dress and invited people over to dance.
As she approached her final birthday last New Year’s Eve, Dahlheimer was asked by a nurse how she had managed to live so long and so well.
“Nothing ever bothered me,” she said.
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