Kent woman turns 100

Published 12:56 pm Thursday, December 22, 2011

Mathilda (Tillie) Koch celebrated her 100th birthday Dec. 18.

Her church, the Church of the Holy Spirit, held a special service for her. Archbishop Sartain said Mass at the service and a reception followed.

Koch was born and raised in North Dakota, one of 12 children. She married Michael Koch and they moved to Washington after World War II.

Koch has been a resident of Kent for the past 17 years. She has been very active in the Catholic church all her life and still attends service on a regular basis.

Koch has two daughters, Gloria Johnson of Kent and Phyllis Halliday of Sumner. Her extended family includes four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.