Walter Breuning was born on 21 Sep 1896 to John Geoffrey Breuning and Cora Mae Morehouse in Melrose, Minnesota, the fourth of their five children. He would outlive all of his siblings. At an early age, his family relocated to De Smet, South Dakota, but later returned to Melrose.
Walter began his employment at an early age to supplement the family income. His first job was cleaning out baking pans, but his most notable was with the Great Northern Railway at the age of sixteen. Walter remembered he would hide when the owner came to the offices as he was under the accepted age requirement for the company. He would go on to be employed for fifty years with the company, including a move to Montana by age twenty-five.
On 14 Oct 1922, Walter married Agnes C. Sharpe, former wife of Thomas Toohey, in Butte, Montana and the couple was together until her death in 1957. They had no children.
Walter was married again on 5 Oct 1958 to Margaret Eugenia Daniels, a divorcee. His death record shows his marital status as "Married (Separated)", so this marriage was so short-lived that Walter never acknowledged it.
As of July 18, 2009, Walter officially became the oldest living man in the world at the age of 112 years and 300 days. When asked what he attributed his longevity to, he would reply "two meals per day and exercise".
Walter held that title for almost two years before his death on 14 Apr 2011. It was Walter's wish there be no pomp and circumstance about his death/burial. It was not until 2012 that Great Falls quietly interred his ashes.
Walter began his employment at an early age to supplement the family income. His first job was cleaning out baking pans, but his most notable was with the Great Northern Railway at the age of sixteen. Walter remembered he would hide when the owner came to the offices as he was under the accepted age requirement for the company. He would go on to be employed for fifty years with the company, including a move to Montana by age twenty-five.
On 14 Oct 1922, Walter married Agnes C. Sharpe, former wife of Thomas Toohey, in Butte, Montana and the couple was together until her death in 1957. They had no children.
Walter was married again on 5 Oct 1958 to Margaret Eugenia Daniels, a divorcee. His death record shows his marital status as "Married (Separated)", so this marriage was so short-lived that Walter never acknowledged it.
As of July 18, 2009, Walter officially became the oldest living man in the world at the age of 112 years and 300 days. When asked what he attributed his longevity to, he would reply "two meals per day and exercise".
Walter held that title for almost two years before his death on 14 Apr 2011. It was Walter's wish there be no pomp and circumstance about his death/burial. It was not until 2012 that Great Falls quietly interred his ashes.
Walter Breuning was born on 21 Sep 1896 to John Geoffrey Breuning and Cora Mae Morehouse in Melrose, Minnesota, the fourth of their five children. He would outlive all of his siblings. At an early age, his family relocated to De Smet, South Dakota, but later returned to Melrose.
Walter began his employment at an early age to supplement the family income. His first job was cleaning out baking pans, but his most notable was with the Great Northern Railway at the age of sixteen. Walter remembered he would hide when the owner came to the offices as he was under the accepted age requirement for the company. He would go on to be employed for fifty years with the company, including a move to Montana by age twenty-five.
On 14 Oct 1922, Walter married Agnes C. Sharpe, former wife of Thomas Toohey, in Butte, Montana and the couple was together until her death in 1957. They had no children.
Walter was married again on 5 Oct 1958 to Margaret Eugenia Daniels, a divorcee. His death record shows his marital status as "Married (Separated)", so this marriage was so short-lived that Walter never acknowledged it.
As of July 18, 2009, Walter officially became the oldest living man in the world at the age of 112 years and 300 days. When asked what he attributed his longevity to, he would reply "two meals per day and exercise".
Walter held that title for almost two years before his death on 14 Apr 2011. It was Walter's wish there be no pomp and circumstance about his death/burial. It was not until 2012 that Great Falls quietly interred his ashes.
Walter began his employment at an early age to supplement the family income. His first job was cleaning out baking pans, but his most notable was with the Great Northern Railway at the age of sixteen. Walter remembered he would hide when the owner came to the offices as he was under the accepted age requirement for the company. He would go on to be employed for fifty years with the company, including a move to Montana by age twenty-five.
On 14 Oct 1922, Walter married Agnes C. Sharpe, former wife of Thomas Toohey, in Butte, Montana and the couple was together until her death in 1957. They had no children.
Walter was married again on 5 Oct 1958 to Margaret Eugenia Daniels, a divorcee. His death record shows his marital status as "Married (Separated)", so this marriage was so short-lived that Walter never acknowledged it.
As of July 18, 2009, Walter officially became the oldest living man in the world at the age of 112 years and 300 days. When asked what he attributed his longevity to, he would reply "two meals per day and exercise".
Walter held that title for almost two years before his death on 14 Apr 2011. It was Walter's wish there be no pomp and circumstance about his death/burial. It was not until 2012 that Great Falls quietly interred his ashes.
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A wondrous fellow,
A distinctive honor,
To have the Title of
Oldest Man Alive
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