Oak Hills resident turns 103 on Saturday

Minnie Dietz farmed, worked as journalist

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Oak Hills Living Center resident Minnie Dietz turns 103 years old Saturday, Nov. 29.

The oldest resident at the nursing home, Dietz has outlived two husbands and continues to remain in good health, according to her niece, Mildred Cordes of New Ulm. Minnie is hard of hearing and is difficult to understand when she speaks.

Longevity runs in her family. Minnie's brother Walter Johnson lived to age 99.

Minnie was born Nov. 29, 1900 in Nicollet Township, Nicollet County. She married Irven Hopp on Aug. 28, 1924. They farmed in Granby Township after marriage until 1947 when they moved to Nicollet.

She helped her husband on the farm by husking corn and plowing with horses besides working as a news writer for the Nicollet Leader. The couple also worked as custodians at Trinity Lutheran Church and school in Nicollet for 18 years. They were also known for their homemade root beer, beer and ground cherries.

Cordes said she often worked on the Dietz farm.

"We were in pretty good shape back then. You had to work hard to get all the manual labor done," Cordes added.

Irven died on March 9, 1973.

Minnie married Henry Dietz on June 9, 1976 and they lived in New Ulm. Henry had an office job at a mill in New Ulm He died Dec. 7, 1983.

She moved to Sunset Apartments in June 1985. She became a resident at Oak Hills Living Center on March 18, 1998.

Minnie enjoyed quilting, crocheting, knitting, playing cards and fishing at various lakes in Northern Minnesota. He is the oldest living member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of New Ulm.

Mildred Cordes is the mother of long-time Springfield and Starbuck baseball player and coach Dick Cordes. He is now the Community Education Director at Glenwood.