Montanans are getting older. Baby boomers are hitting retirement age and more and more frequently, Montanans are reaching 100 years old.

In fact, at the Governor’s Conference on Aging held at Kalispell’s Red Lion Hotel on Tuesday, Gov. Steve Bullock said there are 175 centenarians in the Treasure State.

“I get to sign the certificates every year,” he said to a huge crowd of senior citizens, local leaders and health professionals. “This year I got writer’s cramp from signing so many.”

While Bullock admitted he hadn’t been to all 46 of Montana’s annual Governor’s Conferences on Aging — stating that he was two when the first one was held — he was happy to have attended the last two. Last year’s event was hosted in Glasgow and Great Falls.

Lunch for those in attendance was followed by a short blessing and then Bullock’s praise for those Montanans who had made it 100 years. It is estimated by the Department of Health and Human Services that by 2025, Montana will have more than 3,000 centenarians.

“1914 wasn’t a bad crop when you come right down to it,” Bullock said. 

The governor spoke about notable 1914 babies including baseball great Joe DiMaggio, “Superman” actor George Reeves and heavyweight boxer Joe Louis. He also mentioned Jonas Salk, creator of the polio vaccine, and the huge impact he had on the world.

“Apart from the atomic bomb, polio was America’s greatest fear,” Bullock said. 

He said that parents that still vaccinate for the disease continue to see the benefits from Salk’s vaccine.

In attendance in the crowd of several hundred were 14 centenarians or their families to accept the signed certificate. 

Velma Bradley, a Kalispell centenarian, looks forward to reading the daily paper from cover to cover every morning and fills out the crossword in pen.

Virginia Ophus, 100, is a big supporter of Sen. Jon Tester. After all, the Big Sandy native is his aunt. 

“Making it to 100 is no small feat,” Bullock said. “It takes good genes, a certain amount of determination and a dose of luck.”

Montana’s oldest person, 106-year old Madeline Roeseler in Helena, enjoyed some cake while celebrating her birthday with Bullock the day before. Two other 106-year-olds live in Clancy and Corvallis. Four more seniors are 104, 11 are 103, 12 are 102 and 25 are 101 years old.

Montana is no stranger to longevity. For two years, the world’s oldest man lived in Great Falls. Walter Breuning lived to 114 before his death in April 2011.

For Bullock, the stories of Montanans older than him bring back fond memories.

His eldest daughter, Caroline, was named after his wife’s grandmother. “Grandma Caroline” imparted wisdom and the younger Caroline was alive to hear some of it.

Before he departed, the governor offered thanks to the centenarians for living rich and fulfilling lives.

“You passed on a wonderful, wonderful state to our generation,” Bullock said. “And as governor I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure I can pass it on to my children.”

Some other centenarians honored included the founder of the Bigfork library, the former Granite County superintendent of schools, a race car mechanic, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters.

This year’s conference including lectures on Alzheimer’s, healthy aging and helping seniors avoid being taken advantage of.

“I served as attorney general,” Bullock said. “And I found there are those who view senior citizens as easy targets, as vulnerable.”

Recognizing scams that would take advantage of senior citizens is vital to allow Montana’s elderly to lead happy lives.

In Montana, every month 1,065 people reach retirement age. That trend will continue for 17 years and will swell the already ample ranks of Montana’s senior citizens.

“Aging in the last best place has its challenges,” Bullock said. “Because of our rural state, delivering services is difficult.”

The 10 Montana Agency on Aging branches help provide services to even the most remote seniors. For an aging and independent state like Montana, that might make all the difference, he said.

The Governor’s Conference on Aging continues in Kalispell today, and then moves to Bozeman on Thursday and Friday.

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