By Kris Leonhardt

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – This fall, Wisconsin Rapids resident, Marie Hansen, turned 104 years old, and she is already looking toward her 105^th.

“I’m going to try,” she said.

Hansen grew up in the town of Newport, just east of Wisconsin Dells.

After attending school in Wisconsin Dells, she worked for Triple P in Necedah making gaskets for cars.

She later met and married Arden Hansen; the couple married in October 1935 and farmed in Adams County until 1958.

And Marie was no stranger to farm life.

“My job was to take care of the chickens. The baby chickens, they were so cute,” she said.

“One time my sister and I were going to kill a rooster. I held him and my sister was going to cut his head off, and he took off. His head was hanging.

“I didn’t have to milk cows. I did the cooking and canning.

Arden died in 1991

Marie said that the most memorable moments of her life include the births of her son, Glenn, and daughter, Darlene, who both live in the Wisconsin Rapids area.

Other moments that stand out are the passing away of her parents and her grandson, and walking to church at the age of three.

“It was a couple of miles,” she recalled.

Marie enjoyed sewing and singing, and played the organ “by ear.” She performed locally with the “Senior Sing Along” at homes throughout the area.

But, her favorite sounds are of church music and singing in the choir.

Marie remains active today, participating in the bean bag toss, BINGO, and other activities, while she looks forward to 105.

She has already outpaced her father, who passed away at 60, and her mother who died at 82.