Forrest Thompson was once featured with his wares on “The Price is Right.” Now, the centenarian relaxes with his daughter at her home in Bigfork.

Thompson celebrated his 100th birthday Wednesday with friends and family at his favorite restaurant, Casa Mexico, in Kalispell with dinner and a cake.

One of his surviving children, Betty Jane Jordan, is his chauffeur, caretaker and confidant. Thompson, hard of hearing, communicated through Jordan to tell his story.

“He’s always been very loving,” she said. “And a real character. He loved to play jokes and play with the kids. The biggest kick he got was standing on his head for the kids and grandkids at family events.”

With five generations of his family in the Flathead Valley, there were always plenty of times to do his headstands.

Thompson was born in Cushing, Okla., on Aug. 7, 1913. He was raised in Southern California, where he met the love of his life, Neva.

They had five children: Forrest Wayne, Dale Lee, Judith Ann, Jordan and Thomas Sidney. Thompson has eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. 

Neva died nearly 20 years ago, but Thompson has kept active and relatively healthy since then.

His cabinet business was once the largest in California and some of the finer works were featured by Bob Barker on “The Price is Right,” with contestants guessing how much they were worth. 

“He was still making cabinets until he was 93 years old,” Jordan said of her father’s work ethic.

Thompson, who now spends much of his time around the house watching animals and eating (quite a bit, Jordan adds), was in a bowling league until he turned 96 and a stroke took him away from the alley. He still has many fishing stories and misses the days when going to fish was an easy getaway for him.

His history in Montana goes back nearly 60 years, as he bought property on Swan River Road in 1956 and moved in the 1970s to the area permanently. Most of his family still resides in the valley.

One member who does not? Thompson’s brother, who is turning 95 in November.

Longevity seems to run in the family.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.