100 years young

Elizabeth (Thebiay) Moklebust has seen and done many amazing things in her lifetime, but there’s one thing she’s done that many only wish for - and that’s celebrate her 100th birthday.

Moklebust was born May 1, 1914 in Eagle Grove, Iowa.  In the eighth grade, she and her parents moved to the family farm just south of Eagle Grove (her grandparents, Justé and Mary Thebiay, built the house in 1895), so it was a big deal when she got her driver’s license and could get into town on her own.  She laughed when she recalled how she used to only park on the south side of main street so she didn’t have to cross the busy intersection.

“I did it to avoid an accident,” she said smiling.

It’s no wonder, then, the Moklebust thinks the car was the best invention thus far in her lifetime.

When she graduated from high school, Moklebust left home and attended college, studying agriculture.  After being gone to the Des Moines area for 10 years, Moklebust was asked by her father if she and her husband, Bernhard, would be interested in returning back to Eagle Grove and living on the family farm?  After talking it over, they decided it was where they wanted to raise their own children, so they moved back home.  Moklebust is proud to say that the farm still remains in the family today.  Her son, David, and his wife, Cathy, moved there in 1996, having raised their children there.  They still continue to call it home today.

While Moklebust enjoyed raising her three children, Barbara, David, and Joe, in Eagle Grove, there is one trip away from home she will never ..........