At the time of her 90th birthday on 15 February 1966, Jennie [Keiper] Deitrich was interviewed by a local newspaper at her home in Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and the following article was published:
90 Years Young
Mrs. Jennie [Keiper] Deitrich, widow of Edward Deitrich, has just celebrated her ninetieth birthday. She is the oldest resident of Gratz, where she resides with her daughter Laura Deitrich. Friends and relatives showered her with cards, gifts, birthday cakes and many best wishes.
Mrs.Deitrich was born 15 February 1876, in Lykens. She is the daughter of the late William H. Keiper and Susannah [Row] Keiper, and is descended from a long line of pioneering ancestors, some having come to America as early as the 1600s.
On 9 May 1896, Jennie Keiper and Edward Deitrich were married in Lykens by the Rev. Soulard. Their first married years were lived in Lykens where Mr. Deitrich worked in the mines. Later they felt they would be happier raising their family in the country, so in 1908 they bought what was to become the “old homestead” near Gratz [Lykens Township]. For a while, Mr. Deitrich kept his job at the mines and he and the boys also worked on the farm.
Eleven children were born to this happy couple, seven of whom are still living. They include: William Dietrich, of Loyalton [actually Lykens Township]; Earl Dietrich of Portsmouth, Virginia; Laura Deitrich at home; Harry Deitrich of Hegins R.D. 1; Susan [Deitrich] Schoffstall of Gratz; Marlin Deitrich of Millersburg; and Lauren Deitrich of Baltimore, Maryland. There are also eleven grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.
1939, tragedy hit this family when two of the boys, John Deitrich and Lee Deitrich, were killed in an independent mine cave-in. By this time, Mr. Deitrich was getting on in years and felt he could not work the farm alone, so they sold it and moved to Gratz.
Mr. and Mrs. Deitrich were blessed with many happy years together, and in 1946 celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. in 1948, Mr. Deitrich passed on. Since then Mrs. Deitrich and Laura have lived together.
Jennie Deitrich has been enjoying very good health. She is still able to help with some of the housework. She likes to bake and her family looks forward to a cup of coffee and a piece of her pumpkin or custard pie when on a visit to her house. She enjoys television and does quite a bit of reading. Keeping up with world events is her pleasure, and she is a great conversationalist. She is a charming and most hospitable lady.
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