Sylvia Lininger is hitting a milestone many people only hope to achieve. On Wednesday, Nov. 15, she will turn 100 years old.
Sylvia was born a century ago in 1923. The youngest of five, she grew up with four older brothers in Highmore, S.D. She eventually graduated as valedictorian of Worthington High School in Worthington, Minn. and received her degree from the University of Minnesota in 1945 as a registered dietitian.
In 1948, Sylvia met her husband in Chicago, and the pair married on New Year’s Eve that year in New York City. They headed to Kewanee in 1949 and arrived in town the day that the Billiet triplets were born.
Over the years, Sylvia was employed at the Kewanee Public Hospital working in her field as a dietician before going to work at Hammond Henry Hospital in Geneseo. Her dietician license remained active up until just five years ago.
She and her husband had three sons, but even with her busy work and home life, Sylvia was involved with the community libraries. She served for a total of 50 years on library boards, first having a seat on the Wethesfield board. When that board merged with the Kewanee library, she served in that capacity as well.
To commemorate the birthday milestone, her family is throwing her a birthday open house and the public is invited to attend. Her son, Bill Lininger, is requesting no cards or gifts. Instead he’s hoping that people will simply turn out to say hello, wish her a happy birthday and enjoy a piece of cake.
Sylvia’s birthday open house will be held Wednesday evening at the First United Methodist Church at 108 E. Central Blvd. from 6 to 8 pm.
