We are on our way!!!

The car is leaving to the birthday party!!!
Gladys is excited and looks lovely.

Diamond in the Rough

This poem arrived last night by email

Diamond In The Rough
It takes time to make a diamond.
They are rare, symbolize value, sought after, and no one ever has the right amount.
October 15th, 1908 began a trek for a special gal born on an island named Diamond.
How fitting, now 100 years young, matriarch of loved ones too many to count.

Gladys, you are the diamond in the rough.
Rough times you endured, emerging glowing, shining and tough.

Like a diamond you set an everlasting glow for those you have touched.
Our love and feelings for you will never be too much.


Love The Dahlins

Trick or Treaters at Gladys'

There was a knock at the door, giggling and ....
in come Gladys' Great Grandchildren
wearing Halloween masks and shouting
"Trick or Treat."

Gladys was prepared;
she already had the big candy jar out
and was sporting her "Halloween glasses with
the big nose and mustache".

Soon the kitchen was full of Jane's lovely daughters
and their children. Jane and the girls serenaded
Gladys with "Barnacle Bill the Sailor". Gladys joined
in singing the medly of old favorites.

Izzy Fletcher and her son Dennis, from
Oregon, arrived at just about the same time as Ike,
Mick and Carol Fletcher from Alaska.
Augie, Clark and Otter watched.

Gladys' table was covered with cards, presents,
boxes of candy, honey, jam, blackberry brandy,
an avacado and some pineapple guavas from
California and lots of festive wrapping paper
and ribbons.

Gladys opened cards and presents. She was delighted
with each and every gift. She was showered with
lots of hugs and kisses. Soon the Trick or Treaters
left, the kitchen cleared out leaving Ike and Izzy
sitting at the table with Gladys telling stories
and reciting poetry.

Another knock at the door,
more handsome boys march in.
Its Anthony, Derek and Michael come
round in Ted's old red ranch pick up
to wish Gladys Happy Birthday.

At noon the crowd leaves and Gladys
has lunch and then heads for a well
deserved nap.

The Family Gathers

Last night, family gathered at Jane's house across the road from Gladys'.

Ted and Peggy arrived with their son, Wayne, and his family.
Jane made Gladys' favorite fried chicken , mashed potatoes and gravy.
Peggy made a coconut creme pie.

Jane's husband, Augie, is arriving this evening. Jane had gone to
Billings to pick up two of her daughters coming in from Hawaii and
California.
The Lopez house will be full up by this evening with the grandchildren
and great grandchildren's arrival.

Ike Fletcher showed up from Alaska this morning. He was opening up
gates for Ted, Wayne, and Jordon while they moved cattle from the
Ross place down to the home place.


"There are people coming in from all directions," Gladys said this afternoon.

Centenarian Gladys Fletcher

In todays mail Gladys recieved a letter from Willard Scott:


Willard Scott
Today Show

4001 Nebraska Avenue N W
Washington, DC 20016
202 885 5018

October 2008


Dear Gladys,

In recognition of your 100th birthday, I am
pleased and privileged to send warm and special
greetings for so memorable an event in your long
life of treasured memories.

It is with delight that I offer best wishes to you
for such a lovely and remarkable milestone, my
friend. Happy Birthday, Gladys and may God
bless you.

Affectionately,



Willard Scott

Happy 100th Birthday Gladys!!!

The festivities started early this morning at Gladys'.

Mike, Mark and Mike from Washington and Idaho arrived at Gladys' doorstep with
two big bouquets of flowers. Jane was fixing her mother breakfast and Dick was
working on posters for the party on Saturday.

Dick had been up since 5am and had 3 large pots of coffee brewed for the 3M's
as Mike, Mark and Mike are known as. They are out here hunting antelope.

Gladys is delighted with the big bouquet of roses and bunch of rubrum lilies, chyrsanthemums
and gerbera daisys that the 3M's brought her. Jane brought her Mom a new suit
to wear on Saturday. The phone kept ringing with birthday wishes from around the
country. Tonight Jane is fixing birthday dinner for her Mother.

Dixie, Charlie, Augie, Ted, Mary Jane, and Jeanette are just a few of the folks that have
called to wish Gladys Happy Birthday Tidings. The presents and cards are coming in
and Gladys is just tickled with all the attention.

Jozzy Rose, accompanied by her mother, Ann De Simone, dropped by to share a cookie
with Gladys this morning. Jozzy couldn't wait to get to the toy box after she showed
Gladys her pink cowboy boots.

Celebrating Begins & Gems from Gladys' Memories

The Birthday Cards, Calls and Callers are showing up in earnest now.

This afternoon, Mike Caspers, the Schwans Man, showed up on the doorstep
wishing Gladys a big Happy Birthday. He had a box of her favorite, Strawberry
Sundae, ice cream cups. Gladys was just delighted. Mike had been out the last time
he's been out.

GEMS from GLADYS' MEMORIES

When living at Lambert near Sydney, Montana, as small children, often Emily, Elma, Hi, Alice and Gladys were sent out to gather dried cow chips. Their father, Edward, ran a sand pit, was a carpenter, did cattle work, machinery repair and sharpened tools for neighbors. The cow chips were used for fuel in the cooking stove since there was no other fuel in the area. Gladys
remembers the hills being covered with agates.

Edward and his friend, Bill Burling had read about there being free land for homesteading and made a trip out to Indian Creek to look at the land. They filed on Homestead land with Mr Britton, Land Commissioner

The family moved to Indian Creek with three wagons in 1917. They were headed out to their homestead. Emily drove the wagon with the furniture and household goods. Jenny Mae drove the covered wagon with the bedding, where she and the girls slept. There was a white mare with a blue roan shoulder, foal at heel, that was tied to Jenny's wagon. Gladys remembers her pulling back in the night and rocking the wagon back and forth. Ed and his son, slept under that wagon too. Ed drove an open wagon loaded with farm equipment, the forge and charcoal. During the trip from Sydney to Miles City in 1917, Gladys' brother Hi, decided that he would chop the firewood for the evening's campfire. He nearly chopped off a toe. Due to his wound, he rode on the reech at the back of the wagon. For entertainment, Alice and Gladys would gather bottles found alongside the road. When they saw a car coming in their direction they would alert Hi. He would throw a bottle underneath the wagon wheel breaking it. Shortly after that the car would come to a screeching halt; passengers would jump out to look at the flat tire, swearing, shouting and arm waving would commence.

Soon After their arrival in Miles City, the sheriff showed up and took her father and brother
down to the police station. Gladys' father was fined for the flat tires and his children's
deeds. The Undersheriff was one of the victims, it turns out.

When Hi and his father returned to camp, Alice and Gladys were ready to tease their
brother, until they recieved a stern warning from their father.


JENNIE ORT DIARY ENTRY

Arrived at the Indian Creek Homestead on November 13, 1917.

Amount of improvements 1st year there.
Put in 2 milesof fence.
Broke and put into corn and beans - 6 acres.
Broke and put into garden and potatoes - 3 acres.
Built a cave (cellar) 18 ft. x 30ft
Built a log house.
Built a barn.