Virginia Bett of Canton, Michigan, turned 106 on Friday, September 24, 2021. Photo by Jacob Jefferson | Marx Layne & Co.

By Edward Pevos | MLIVE | Sepember 28, 2021

CANTON, MI – A Michigan woman is now a centenarian plus six. Virginia Bett just celebrated her 106th birthday with a celebration surrounded by some family and friends.

Bett, who lives at Waltonwood Cherry Hill Senior Living in Canton, turned 106 on Friday, Sept. 24. She was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, but has lived a lot of her long life in the “Mitten State.”

Bett says she never smoked and loves a glass of good wine with dinner. Her advice for living a long life: “We’re never too old to have new experiences. Go out and explore the world.”

Virginia Bett of Canton, Michigan, turned 106 on Friday, September 24, 2021. Photo by Jacob Jefferson | Marx Layne & Co.

A former teacher, Bett raised her kids mostly in Grand Blanc. That’s where she was an adult education textile paint instructor after the war. She also helped found a co-op nursery school in Grand Blanc, which remained for years even after the family moved to Ann Arbor. Bett’s husband was an economics professor at the University of Michigan.

Everyone at Bett’s small party wore red, her favorite color. One of her two sons, Bruce, was on hand. He lives nearby. Her other son, Dave, who lives in Marquette, was not able to make it, but will be visiting soon.

Bett loves paintings and has always considered herself an artist. She’s done hundreds of them over the years. Gifts at her 106th birthday included some of her own paintings framed. Some of her family photos were also framed.

Currently, the oldest living person in Michigan is Irene Dunham, who is 113. She will celebrate her 114th birthday in December.

According to Guinness World Records, the oldest person to ever live and the oldest female was Jeanne Louis Calment from France, who died at the age of 122. The oldest living person and oldest living woman is Kane Tanaka from Japan. She’s 118 years old.