CHESTERVILLE — Theresa Besson turned 99 years old on Friday, Jan. 26, and isn’t slowing down much.
Theresa Besson of Chesterville is seen sitting in a 1925 Ford which is the same age as she is. Besson turned 99 on Friday, Jan. 26. Submitted photo
Last week friend Caroline Tibbetts said she would help celebrate the milestone with Besson and Theresa’s daughter, Garnet Wheeler Friday with cake and ice cream. Tibbetts spoke of a picture she has of Besson sitting in a 1925 Ford which is as old as Besson.
“Theresa loves to yodel, sing and play the harmonica, Tibbetts noted. “Last fall she was taken to Embden where she was playing the spoons. She was recognized for that and called up on stage where she yodeled.”
The 2022 Chesterville Town Report was dedicated to Besson, the town’s oldest resident. The dedication noted she could still be seen “mowing, raking, or blowing leaves in her yard.”
The report notes:
• Theresa met her second husband, Floyd Besson, on the dance floor at Art’s Barn and Dance in Jay.
• They married in May of 1954 and were together for 43 years before his passing in 1997.
• For many years they lived on the farm with pink buildings and two upright blue silos on Route 156 in Chesterville where Floyd milked cows and Theresa kept very busy raising her children, cooking, cleaning, and harvesting vegetables from her garden for canning and freezing.
• Theresa also worked at Lamkins’ Hatchery in North Chesterville.
• Her hobbies include sewing family clothing and dolls clothes, high school painting classes, plastic canvas and making crazy quilts.
• She has seven grandchildren, several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Tibbetts said Besson has some dementia, it isn’t every day someone turns 99.
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