The oldest living person in Nebraska history continues to set records.
Thelma Sutcliffe, born Oct. 1, 1906, in what then was Benson, Nebraska, is the fourth-oldest living American and the 11th-oldest person on the planet, according to the Gerontology Research Group.
E.A. Kral of Wilber, Nebraska, who keeps track of age records, said Thelma is the oldest Nebraskan on record.
Thelma plans to celebrate her 114th birthday Thursday with a small party at Brighton Gardens, an assisted living facility near 92nd Street and Western Avenue in Omaha.
“She’s doing fine. She still enjoys visiting on the phone with friends and family,” said Hannah Astarita, the activities and volunteer coordinator for Brighton Gardens. “With COVID, we can’t do all the fun visits, (but) we’ll have flowers, balloons and cake.”
Thelma, born to August and Maude Liesche, was married in 1924 at age 17. She and her husband, Bill, who died in the early 1970s, had no children. Thelma worked for the War Department in the 1940s but otherwise didn’t work outside the home.
A 93-year-old nephew, the Rev. Warren Sorenson of Sun City, Arizona, said that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he will not be traveling to Omaha to help his aunt celebrate her birthday. He said it’s the first time he has missed a visit in more than 20 years.