Woman Celebrates 104th Birthday In Canton

CANTON, MI — Ask Virginia Bett what the key is to a long life, and she will tell you she does not know. She simply takes each day as it comes, looking forward to taking on the next day when it arrives.

On Tuesday Bett, a former teacher and artist by hobby, turned 104 years old, and the staff and residents of Waltonwood Cherry Hill celebrated the day right along with her.

“Virginia is such an amazing part of our family here at Waltonwood,” said Candice Jones, life enrichment manager at Waltonwood Cherry Hill. “She has led such an interesting, inspiring life, and she truly brightens up every room with her spirit.”

Bett was raised in Des Moines, Iowa and had three siblings. Her love for children led her to pursue a career in teaching, and she became a grade school teacher after she attended Drake University in Des Moines.

She and her husband, Virgil, who was an economist, had two sons. The family enjoyed traveling to different parts of the world, including Central America and South America.

Bett even lived in Mexico for a year. She said that time was one of her favorite experiences because the people there were just as lovely as the scenery.

Her lifelong hobby has been painting, and several of her watercolor paintings are displayed in her apartment along with a rug she created using a loom. She said the inspiration behind her paintings was simple: she painted things she cherished.

Bett was recently asked what advice she would want her grandchildren and today’s generation to follow, and her response came as no surprise.

“The world is large. Get out and experience it,” she said with a pleasant smile. “We are never too old to have new experiences.”