SOUTH ST. PAUL — Howard Gustafson has no plans to put away his snow shovel any time soon — even at 98 years of age.

The South St. Paul man has been digging himself out from under Minnesota’s winter white — and even his neighbors — for at least half a century. And he said he doesn’t plan to stop now.

Gustafson retired from the U.S. Postal Service 40 years ago. But he’s hardly kicking back and taking it easy. He has his shovel and two snow blowers which he calls his “winter toys.” Gustafson said he likes “testing his muscles” by clearing snow for his 90-year-old neighbor. And sometimes he even clears snow for several other neighbors, some half his age.

Gustafson said he feels like he’s in his second childhood.