Hard work key to centenarian’s long life
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POLSON — After reaching 101 years of age, surprises don’t come often, and when they do, they aren’t usually of the best variety.
Oscar Baertsch, who turned 101 on July 6, was astounded in a very good way after the Presbyterian Church of Polson threw him a surprise birthday celebration during a monthly Friday evening dinner. When he was welcomed into the room, which was decorated with balloons and two giant birthday cakes congratulating him on the incredible milestone, Baertsch was greeted by friends wishing him a very happy birthday.
As he took it all in, all Baertsch could do was repeat what a big surprise the dinner was with a huge grin on his face.
Baertsch was born in Proctor on July 6, 1905, and moved to Polson during high school. With the exception of a few years in Charlo, he has lived in Polson ever since. Baertsch worked at Polson Plywood Sawmill, sharpened drill bits while Kerr Dam was created, and enjoyed ranching before finally retiring in 1979.
After retiring, Baertsch raised a small group of cattle until the mid 1990s and took care of his ailing wife for six years until she passed away in 2005. Currently, he still raises a garden each year, irrigates his place, pastures cows on his property, mows his lawn, and, astoundingly, Baertsch still drives his car around town. He also has four children and 12 grandchildren spread out around Montana whom he sees fairly often.
After being asked what the key to his long life is, Baertsch laughed, looked toward his son Gary and asked him if he should say what he usually does, then proceeded to. “I smoked cigarettes, and I chewed Copenhagen, I drank whiskey, and I worked hard,” Baertsch said. He also said that he didn’t drink too much whiskey, quit smoking in 1949, and quit Copenhagen in 1990. But he has never quit working hard, according to his friends and family.
“[Baertsch is] just a really neat guy,” said Dick Christopher, who has known him for years.“He’s got a steeltrap mind.”
Baertsch has been attending the dinners for the past four years. He would only miss a meal if the weather was too inclement to be out and about, according to his son Gary Baertsch.
“We started taking him to the Methodist church dinners, then to others,” he said. For a bachelor like Baertsch, the weekly dinners provide a free meal that he didn’t have to prepare and a chance to be social.
The dinners are a collaboration between five local churches and are called the Friendship Table community dinners. They were initially started at one church to provide a warm meal at the end of the month to carry people over until the next pay period, and, seeing a need in the community, were expanded to weekly events. The dinners are hosted by the Catholic church the first Friday, the Presbyterian church the second, the Methodist church the third, Journey Be the fourth, and if there is a fifth Friday, Polson Community Church hosts the dinner. Everyone is welcome at the free dinners, which typically begin around 5 p.m.
