An unbreakable bond

Field stayed in California, where she raised two daughters with her husband, George. His mother lived in a home behind the Fields' house.

Now Field's daughter and son-in-law, Esther and Rudy Carter, live in the little house, and she lives in the larger one. Otherwise, Field lives independently, her son-in-law said. She doesn't need help with much, Carter said, and even shares cooking duties with her daughter. She has her favorite foods.

"Boy, do we love for her to cook them," Carter said.

Papke's story is similar. Her rural Mina home, where she has lived for about 10 years, is connected to that of her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Alvin Mathern. Her husband died in 1985.

The twins now have their share of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and Field has two great-great-grandchildren.

Long, healthy years

Field couldn't be interviewed for this story because she was in the hospital for gall bladder surgery, her son-in-law said. Though she has had a few health issues, including heart surgery, she is pretty healthy, Carter said.

Papke, except for some arthritis and high blood pressure, said she has been healthy all her life.

Before she had two hip replacements, she had been in the hospital only four times - to give birth to children (her other two were born in her mother's home).

"Every time I went into the hospital, I came out with a baby," she said.

Mathern, 72, and Lori Seafler, 48, of Sioux Falls, are the oldest and youngest of Papke's children.

The two agree that their mom has always been healthy (as is most of the family).

"I let her do all she can do," Mathern said, adding that the independence of daily living allows her mother to stay active.

Papke, who uses a walker, doesn't care to sit still.

"You don't want to sit down and quit because that's when the arthritis really sets in," she said.

Papke attributes at least part of her longevity to genetics. Her father lived until he was 93, though her mom died at 55. Perhaps hard work deserves some credit, too.

"In those old times, work was really work," she said.

And though she might have earned the right to complain, she never had any patience for whining and wouldn't allow it from herself, her daughters said.

"It's always somebody wanting sympathy," Papke said.

(Edit:Ruby)