Happy 102nd birthday, Viola Breukelman of Victorville

Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press
·1 min read

While the first Reader’s Digest was making its way to subscribers and the original Yankee Stadium was being constructed in the Bronx, "baby Viola” was being introduced to the world.

Over a century later, Viola Breukelman celebrated her 102nd birthday with team members and fellow residents at the Sterling Commons Memory Care, a Koelsch senior living community in Victorville.

Viola Breukelman celebrated her 102nd birthday with team members and fellow residents at the Sterling Commons Memory Care, a Koelsch senior living community in Victorville.
Viola Breukelman celebrated her 102nd birthday with team members and fellow residents at the Sterling Commons Memory Care, a Koelsch senior living community in Victorville.

Born on April 27, 1922, Viola spent her childhood living on a farm in South Dakota with her nine siblings, Sterling officials said.

Viola would later marry her sweetheart, John, and together they would have three daughters and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Viola proudly worked in a school cafeteria, serving her community and its youth, Sterling officials stated.

Viola Breukelman celebrated her 102nd birthday with team members and fellow residents at the Sterling Commons Memory Care, a Koelsch senior living community in Victorville.
Viola Breukelman celebrated her 102nd birthday with team members and fellow residents at the Sterling Commons Memory Care, a Koelsch senior living community in Victorville.

Later in life, Viola became one of the first homeowners in Apple Valley’s Jess Ranch development, just 10 minutes east of where she resides today.

Construction of the Jess Ranch retirement community began in 1984 on Jess Ranch property, once the site of the largest turkey growing and marketing operations in Southern California, the Daily Press reported.

Now a resident at Sterling Commons Memory Care Community, Viola loves working with flowers and enjoying the scenery, playing card games, crocheting and bowling.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Happy 102nd birthday, Viola Breukelman of Victorville