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Oldest living person in Minnesota turns 111

ST. ANTHONY, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s oldest living person has added another candle to her birthday cake.

Evelyn Kleine turned 111 years old this week at a community home in St. Anthony where she is a bingo and cribbage champ, Minnesota Public Radio News reported .

“Wow, I’m old!” Kleine exclaimed with a chuckle when told how old she was.

Kleine was born in northeast Minnesota on July 11, 1907. She’s considered a supercentenarian, a person who has lived to or passed their 110th birthday.

Kleine can only hear out of her right ear and her memory isn’t what it used to be, but she still has a sharp mind and wit.

“The old forgetter is working overtime,” she joked.

Kleine said her secret to longevity has been that she takes each day as it comes and doesn’t smoke, drink or dance.

“I didn’t dance,” she said. “Well, maybe I danced once or twice.”

Kleine was a seamstress by trade and continued to mend her clothes, even on her 100th birthday.

“She wanted to do it right,” said Joanie Bixler-Anderson, Kleine’s great-niece. “She continued to drive until she was 99 when she said her car gave out before she did.”

Kleine was married twice. She’s outlived both of her husbands and has no children.

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