Amid dozens of well-wishers, family members and friends, Joe Slobojan celebrated his 100th birthday in Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s Beargrass room Sunday afternoon.

Slobojan, born in Wilton, N.D. on Dec. 16, 1913, received certificates from the president, governor and several United States Coast Guard commanders as Montana’s newest centenarian.

He and his wife, Leona, never had children, but moved from North Dakota to the Flathead in 1955 so Joe could work at the Anaconda aluminum plant in Columbia Falls in its first years.

After his time at the plant, Slobojan opened a small tree farm with his wife, and the two became fixtures in the community. 

As much was obvious from the several organizations at the hospital to honor Slobojan during his birthday, including the Knights of Columbus.

“Uncle Joe,” as he is known to all of his family members, is polite and has a good sense of humor. Some of his passions were hunting, fishing and packing into the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

To what does a beloved man like Slobojan attribute his long life?

“There is no secret,” he said. “You just live day to day.”

With more than 75 happy people in attendance at his party, clearly more than a few had taken his work to heart.