Muriel Swenson (picture on the left)  was the first resident at Union Central Senior Living, an Ecumen managed community in Detroit Lakes, when it opened in 2010.  She is also the oldest at 101.  But not by much.  Tillie Dybing (right), who lives down the hall, just turned 100.

Muriel and Tillie had birthdays a week apart in August.  Both had very special birthday parties, with family coming in from all over the country to celebrate.

Both women are active and live independently and frequently socialize with each other at Union Central. 

Muriel and her now-deceased husband of 75 years, ran a dairy farm near Hawley and raised two children. 

Tillie grew up in a sod house in Manford, N.D., and later lived in Harvey.  She spent most of her adult life in Minot, where she and her husband raised two children.  Tillie worked a Bader’s Department Store in Minot for 27 years.

We honor centenarians Muriel Swenson and Tillie Dybing.