Tillie turns 103

Published 3:56 pm Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Family and friends – with a special appearance from Mayor Suzette Cooke – celebrated Tillie Koch’s 103rd birthday at Titus Court on Dec. 23.

A 10-year resident, Tillie is the oldest tenant at the Kent senior housing community. She officially turned 103 on Dec. 18.

“I feel fine,” Tillie said. “I am healthy and living at a place I enjoy.”

Born and raised on a small farm in North Dakota, Tillie was one of 11 children. Her father was a carpenter, welder and jack-of-all-trades.

“We didn’t have a big farm, but we had what we needed,” she said. “We had a big garden to maintain. I had a beautiful mother and father.”

Tillie and her late husband, Michael, were married for 42 years. They raised two daughters, who live nearby.