COEUR d'ALENE - Betty Owens was born in Volga, S.D., 105 years ago today.

On Saturday, she spent the day partying at Coeur d'Alene Homes assisted living community with more than 20 members of her family who flew in from around the country. Many of her friends joined in.

"I love people," Betty said.

There was talk of her getting on the back of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle for a spin around town, but it ended up being too cold.

"I just like speed, and anything that goes fast," Owens said.

In her 90s she went parasailing, and celebrated birthdays flying in helicopters and private planes. Others have been spent on the back of motorcycles.

She drove a car for nearly 90 years without incident, just giving up the privilege a couple years ago. People who know her know drivers behind her never got impatient because she wasn't driving fast enough.

"That was the hardest thing for me to give up," she said.

She didn't give up easily, passing state-required behind-the-wheel driving tests at 100 and 101, outdoing many 16-year-olds.

She grew up in Volga, then went to school at South Dakota State College, now known as South Dakota State University. At one point she was voted the most popular girl on campus.

She moved to North Idaho in 1960 from Kansas City, Mo., after visiting her older brother Lloyd Henry, who was living in Coeur d'Alene.

"He took us fishing at all the lakes," she said. "We fell in love with the place."

She and her husband, Eddie, got a place on Hayden Lake at English Point. She was married to Eddie for more than 50 years. Her first husband, Frank Kelley, played professional football for the Cleveland Browns and baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Eddie and Betty Owens spent many days boating and fishing on Hayden Lake before Eddie died.

She worked at her brother Lloyd's insurance agency and in banking.

The sorrow of her life, she said, was that she never had children.

"That was really the only sorrow I've had," she said. She had five brothers and a sister, so she ended up having a large family. She was very close to all her nieces and nephews, visiting them as often as she could.

After Hayden Lake, she moved to Coeur d'Alene and Lake Tower Apartments, where she spent more than 20 years.

She has been at Coeur d'Alene Homes for the past year.

Owens said she loves traveling and has been all around the world.

A life-long Episcopalian, she has been a fixture at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Coeur d'Alene for decades.

John Towers, a nephew from Oak Brook, Ill., said, "She's extremely personable with a wonderful sense of humor, and a love of life and love of family."

He said the family has been coming to visit on Betty's birthday since she turned 90.

This weekend, she has relatives visiting from Illinois, Minnesota, Florida, North Carolina, Montana, Arizona, and Colorado.

Back home, Towers said, he's always bragging about his aunt.

"We've all been amazed by her longevity and her inner strength," he said. "She's just always been party, party, party, and we can't keep up with her."

He said she insists on a Scotch whisky and water, "just two drops," before dinner each evening.

Betty said she can handle the Scotch. "The water goes right through you," she said.

JoAnn Vodegel described her aunt as a loving, humorous, and generous person who is genuinely interested in other people (Owens told several jokes during her birthday party, nailing each punchline with precision).

"I don't know what she said her secret to her longevity is," said Vodegel, of Ashby, Minn. "She used to tell people it was her genes, her faith in God, and an occasional Scotch."

Carolyn Alberts, a friend of the past 20 years from St. Luke's Episcopal Church, said Betty has always been involved in activities at church. She said Betty rarely misses church, and sits in the same pew each Sunday.

"The fact that she's 105 doesn't stop her," Alberts said. "She always has a smile. Her faith means a great deal to her."

She said Betty maintains a positive outlook at all times.

"Life is not always easy, as she would tell you too, but she always looks on the bright side," Alberts said. "That's very uplifting to everyone."