Blanche Klocke Celebrating 105 Years of Living

Knox County’s oldest living resident, Blanche Klocke, will celebrate her 105th Birthday on Saturday, August 27, 2016.

Mrs. Klocke was honored during at special party at the Knox County Nursing Home on Tuesday afternoon, August 23, which was attended by other nursing home residents, staff and her daughter, Anita Miller. Another party is planned for the day of her birthday by her family. Mrs. Klocke’s birthdays have always served as a family reunion.

According to Mrs. Klocke’s son Eldon, long life runs in his family. Mrs. Klocke’s two sisters also lived very long lives – one lived to be 99-years-old and the other lived to be 101-years-old.

Mrs. Klocke was born two-and-a-half miles from Cherry Box in 1911 to Glen and Alma McEwen. She graduated from Leonard High School in 1929 and immediately began teaching at a rural Cherry Box school.

In 1936 she married the love of her life, Paul Robert Klocke. They were married 55 years before Mr. Klocke passed on in 1991.

Mrs. Klocke is the mother of three children, grandmother of 11 surviving grandchildren and the great grandmother of 27. Also, Mrs. Klocke has two great-great grandchildren.

The following videos were recorded at the Knox County Nursing Home during a celebration in Mrs. Klocke’s honor on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 by Echo Menges for The Edina Sentinel.