Walter grew up in Verendrye and lived on his family’s farm until he married Catherine Leier in 1946, a love story he said started with a sleigh ride when roads were blocked after a storm.

“Pretty soon she gave me a peck on the cheek and that started it all,” he said.

The couple soon welcomed their first child, Marilyn, and soon after, one after another, came along Allen, Ardis, Wayne, Leann, Diane, Delvin, Neal, Don, Joel, Ken and Cathy.

“It just happened. They just kept coming – no twins. Everything went fine. It went very well,” Walter said.

Submitted Photo Raymond Walter’s family now spans five generations. From left to right are Diane Miller, Dustin Miller, Lexi Miller and Kai Marrero (held by Diane Miller.)

The family started in a log house but eventually they built a new home with running water and sewer – one of the few homes around at the time that had such amenities. The home had two upstairs bedrooms, with two beds to a room.

“Nobody slept alone. There were two to three to a bed,” said Diane Miller, Walter’s daughter. She went on to say that privacy wasn’t a big deal to them. They were used to it and didn’t know any differently.

Miller went on to say faith was a cornerstone of their family. They never missed a Sunday service at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Karlsruhe.

Walter also made sure Sundays were never a workday.

“I think I can remember maybe one Sunday they went out in their white shirts and ties,” Miller said.

“In a family like that we had to work together. We all worked together to complete the job. Nobody stood back. We had work ethic. We knew well and everyone knew how to work. We made our farm a good, self-sufficient farm,” Walter said.

Community was another value that shaped Walter’s life.

“We had good neighbors,” he said. “The neighbors were always there to help each other. That was a big thing. Being neighborly was a big thing.”

With 12 children at home, everyone worked together and shared responsibilities.

“Nobody stood back. We all worked together to complete the job,” Walter said.

Looking back, he said, he credits the spirit of cooperation, both with his family and among neighbors, as an important part of the life he built.

He also takes pride in what he and his wife built together.

“I’m proud of what we achieved, what we did and my family. I’m proud of it all. God always provided,” he said. “We had a good life together. I’m happy about it and I got to be 100 years old.”

Today, in addition to his 12 children, his family tree includes 35 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, spanning five generations.

As he celebrates 100 years, Walter’s advice for a long, happy life is simple.

“Help one another. Smile. Carry a smile with you wherever you go,” he said.