Fair / 52° F
The oldest Otter [UPDATED]
Published 10:58am Monday, May 16, 2011 Updated 2:50pm Tuesday, May 17, 2011By Tom Hintgen
Daily Journal
Mae Tjaden Holm, 85 years after graduating from Fergus Falls High School with the Class of 1926, will be the oldest alum taking part in this summer’s all-school reunion. She’s 102 and remembers her days at the old Washington High School just north of downtown Fergus Falls.
Holm doesn’t leave her apartment at Riverview Heights much, near the levee, so members of the reunion planning committee plan to come to her the weekend of July 15-17, during the all-school gathering.
“I remember classmates such as Mary Margaret Burnap, Oscar Geving, Paul Forberg, and others,” said Holm. “Paul was our class president. We all got along well.”
Holm also remembers the legendary junior high principal, Allie Mitchell, who served from 1922 to 1958 in Fergus Falls. “You don’t forget school leaders like her,” said Holm.
The centenarian has one daughter, Eileen, who lives with a granddaughter, Carol, in the Twin Cities. She is proud of Eileen, her three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren. Mae heads five generations.
“Mae is simply a wonderful person, and a very humble person at that,” said her niece, Linda Field of Fergus Falls. “Her cheerfulness and determination have been an inspiration for me over the years.”
Mae was born Oct. 28, 1908, to Okko and Louisa Olson Tjaden in Wolverton, northwest of Rothsay, the second of 12 children. Okko was a railroad and general store employee and later owned a taxidermy business.
The family moved to Foxhome where she attended school. In 1925 the large family moved to Fergus Falls. Mae took Normal School Teachers Training at Fergus Falls High School.
After graduation in 1926, she taught three years in rural schools in Wilkin County until her marriage to George Holm on May 10,1930. In this farming community, near Doran, Mae was Sunday school teacher, superintendent and 4-H club leader. She belonged to the Ladies Aid Society and Homemakers Club.
They retired from farming and moved to Fergus Falls in September, 1961. She became active in WCTU, LTL and Good News Club.
Mae belonged to a Scrabble Club prior to age 100. Soon after she moved from an independent apartment to an assisted living residence at Riverview Heights. Fellow residents enjoy hearing stories from her past. She recently completed the May Readers Digest crossword puzzle.
Members of the 544 Education Foundation, who are planning this year’s all-school reunion, are amazed that someone from the Class of 1926 is here to look forward to the July gathering. On Thursday, during their noon meeting, they paged through the 1926 high school annual and saw a photo of 17-year-old Mae Tjaden, who is now 102-year-old Mae Holm.
Under Tjaden’s photo are the words, “She is quiet, conscientious and studious. Mae is one who will prove herself a true friend.”
Eight-five years ago she was a member of the Senior Girls Club at Fergus Falls High School. That group participated in an operetta, “Once in a blue moon,” and other activities.
In the 1926 yearbook, Tjaden and other seniors summed up their class philosophy as they prepared to graduate: “We are launched, but not anchored, a motto true. That’s something we will strive to hold. We love the class of ‘26. Long may its worth be told.”
