Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a series featuring Albert Lea’s centenarians. The series focuses on their memories of the past and what they’ve done to live longer, healthier lives.

As the only remaining sibling out of 10 brothers and sisters, Albert Lean Clara Margadant has often questioned why she’s lived so long — not to mention past a century in age.

Though the 100-year-old woman worked hard throughout her life and always ate a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, she said she had no idea she was going to live to see all that she has.

“I didn’t because none of my family did,” said Margadant, who lives at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea. “I can’t understand. I guess it’s in the books or something.”

Though Margadant’s memories of the past have begun to fade, she remains a pleasant, joyful person to be around — a woman full of accomplishments.

Born Aug. 18, 1908, near New Richland, she attended school in a two-room school in Manchester, where she said she had a wonderful teacher.

“We thought we were pretty lucky to have such a nice big school,” she said.

She attended school through the eighth grade. She had eight brothers and one sister and was next to the youngest in age out of all of the children. After she got done with school, she helped out at home before taking on other jobs.

She married her husband, Jim, in the 1940s after they met in Minneapolis through some friends. Together the couple adopted one son and one daughter.

“We kept pretty busy with the children,” Margadant said. “We thought the world of our children.”

At one point the centenarian worked at the former county home — where Good Samaritan Society is now — doing a little bit of everything, including washing dishes, preparing food and doing laundry, among other tasks, her daughter, Carolyn Gartner said. She always had a flower and vegetable garden.

Several years later, Margadant worked as the head of housekeeping at St. John’s Lutheran Home until she retired around the age of 70, Gartner said.

Her husband, Jim, passed away after a heart attack in 1972.

Around the same time, Margadant moved to Albert Lea and bought a house in the western part of Albert Lea. She later downsized to an apartment.

Now, living at Good Samaritan Society since February of 2003 after having a slight stroke, Margadant stays active for her age by getting involved in the facility’s activities..

She gets around in a wheelchair — she doesn’t really walk anymore — oftentimes going to an exercise session in the mornings, regular chapel services and regular therapy sessions as well.

Because her sight is beginning to fail her, she doesn’t go to many of the facility’s larger group gatherings, but she does meet one-on-one with the activities staff.

“She is such a pleasant woman and is actually quite alert,” said Good Samaritan social worker Lori Henricksen. “She’s just delightful. She kind of picks up your day.”

Gartner, who lives in Mapleton, comes to visit weekly, usually bringing lunch.

“She’s always got a smile and very seldom complains — that’s how she’s always been,” Gartner said. “She’s been a wonderful mother.”

Other than Margadant having to have her appendix out several years ago, Gartner said she can’t remember her mother ever having anything major wrong with her health.

When asked how she thinks her mother lived to be so long, Gartner replied: “I guess God wanted her to live, that’s why.”