Meet Mr Walter Breuning, the oldest man in the world! Born in 1896 Walter is now 113 yrs old, he was gracious enough to meet with Naomie and I today. What a great opportunity and such a wonderful man to visit with. When I scheduled the appointment I was told to be on time that Walter is very prompt. I showed up 30 minutes early...he was waiting.
Born in Melrose MN. Walter had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. We reflected some on his childhood, he said there was not much money, you took what you got for food. Sometimes just the crust from bread. He mentioned the Saturday baths when you got a clean set of cloths for Sunday of course. He said parents were much different than the parents today. Discipline was intact, you listened and respected your parents unlike today. Walter is very in tune with todays troubled youth. He also mentioned his trips to the creamery to buy cream and the ice house to buy ice for his mother who would make the ice cream. This was a special occasion done 3 times a year.
Walter started working for the Northern Railroad in 1916, 2 years later he transfered to Great Falls MT. Walter worked for 65 cents an hour back then. In 1914-15 Jim Hill, the President of Northern Railroad payed to move farmers from Missouri to North Dakota and Montana to farm and grow wheat. So he could haul the wheat they would harvest on his rail..Smart man. Many of these farmers lived in mud houses. We talked about the Great Depression. He stated that 14 to 15 million people were out of work. The year 1919 was the year of no rain, farmers couldn't grow hay to feed their cattle. The mines in Butte closed down. The railroad he worked for dropped from 1200 employees to 50, he was fortunate enough to keep his job all through the depression, he did have to relocate to Butte Mt temporarily and this is where he met Agnes his future wife. Walter banked at 1st National bank one of the only banks to survive and pay off 100%.
In 1922 Walter married Agnes his wife of 35 yrs. He and Agnes never had any children. Agnes passed in 1957 from blood cancer and Walter never re-married. I could sense that he loved Angnes very much and missed her.
Many initutives were implemented to get people back to work. In 1933 the Civic Center was constructed and the Fort Peck Dam construction started. 10 years later was the start of WW11 which put so many people back to work.
We reflected on change, which he says is all good. Walter appreciates change such as electricity, running water and such. Computers, cars all good he says. Walter emphasized several times he thinks people are so much better off today than ever, although we have experienced a couple bad years people still have more money than they ever have.
Walter retired in 1963, he moved into the Rainbow Retirement Community in 1980, all they do for him is a light househeeping once a week. People come from all parts of the world to visit with Walter, phone calls and letters as well. He is still as active as going to the store and bank on his electric scooter. I concluded Walter is still very sharp. He has memories back to the age of 3 years old of his Grandfather who was in the civil war. I asked his opinion on global warming, "all talk" he says. Regarding the talk of the year 2012, Walter responds, "the world ends every minute, every hour, every day for people. Mother Nature will take care of itself".
Walter did share what he thinks is success to longevity, which is work hard and work as long as you can. His diet, he eats only 2 meals a day, breakfast and lunch. Walter eats a lot of fruit. He stays in touch with what is going on in the world (current events) mostly by radio, peolpe have to read for him because his sight is not up to par and do for others what you can when you can. He was recently presented a check for $50,000 by the Great Northern Railroad which he gave to the Shriners Children's Hospital.
He had suprised me with a bit of knowledge about me, he had done some homework. All and all I walked away very much inspired, I told Walter to have a good day, he replied "they're all good days".