Matilda Troutman Spokane

Sun., Jan. 23, 2000

Matilda “Tillie” Troutman celebrated her 100th birthday on Christmas Eve.

She was born Dec. 25, 1899, in Russia. When she was 6, her family - mother, father, three sisters and five brothers - immigrated to America, aboard a freighter/passenger ship. The ocean crossing took 28 days.

The Troutmans first settled in Nebraska before moving on to South Dakota. In North Dakota, they built a sod house for their living quarters.

None of the children spoke English when they entered school.

In the 1920s, Tillie and her parents moved to Rathdrum, Idaho, where they operated a fruit orchard. In 1923, she moved once again - this time to Spokane, where she was a waitress at the former Nim’s Cafe. She never married.

Troutman attributes her long life to prayer, vitamins and homeopathic medicines.

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