A milestone of note: Weiser resident is 100 years young

Friends and family from near and far visited the Weiser Elks Lodge on Saturday to wish Elizabeth Cada well at a reception to celebrate her 100th birthday.

 Among the dozens of friends were former students of Cada, who taught in a one-room schoolhouse at South Crane Creek in a day and age when kids rode horses to school. 

 Former Washington County commissioner Frank Stirm was a student of Cada’s in 1945-46. He was in the seventh grade. His younger brother, Joe Stirm, was in the third grade. They lived 23 miles from Weiser. The enrollment at the rural school never exceeded 13.

 “She was a great teacher,” Frank said.

 Cada was born in Buffalo, Wyo., on Jan. 20, 1919, to Lillan Theresa Shortill and Glenford Gordon Peterson. Her parents called her Elizabeth instead of Lillian so she wouldn’t be confused with her mom Lilly. She was one of 10 children.

 From a young age, Cada and her family moved around a lot following her dad’s jobs. The family moved in 1924 to Boise, where her dad’s sister lived. Two years later, they moved to Oakland, Calif., and in 1927 at age eight Cada relocated to Los Angeles.

 The family moved back to Idaho, settling in Lapwai and a year later in Culdesac and Julietta. Cada graduated from Lapwei High School in 1937. A self-described tomboy, she would rather play touch football and ride her bike than anything else.

 She was a young woman of 18 when the family moved once again to Lewiston Orchards. It was there that she began her higher education in the fall of 1937, enrolling at the Lewiston State Normal School for teachers. For the sake of convenience she stayed with her sisters in town rather than with her parents out in the country.

 According to a written history of her life compiled by her family, Cada wanted to be a nurse but her family thought she would be a better teacher. The job placement office at Lewiston State Normal sent her to South Crane to interview for the job at the South Crane Creek School.

 In 1939, her parents drove her to South Crane, a place she had never heard of 24 miles from Midvale. She interviewed with the school board and was hired with her junior high teaching certificate.

 She met her future husband Frank Cada in 1939 on the night after she arrived at Crane Creek. They were introduced at a dance at the schoolhouse for the previous teacher, Ruth Helsely, who was getting married. She was 20 and Frank was 25. 

 They were married in Weiser in May of 1940. They lived in a house that was called the “Upper Place.” 

 Frank’s dad had bought it and it was old and a bit rustic. The water pump was on the back porch. They lived there for four years. 

 Elizabeth left teaching due to the clause in the contract that prohibited married teachers and became a ranch wife. The Cadas had two children, Fran in 1942 and Dan in 1943. Both children were born in Council. The young family moved to the Wilburn Place in 1944.

 During World War II, Elizabeth went back to teaching, pressed into service by a shortage of teachers. In 1948, they applied for and received electricity at their place. They had more light and modern refrigeration. They stayed busy with the Cattleman’s Association, Cowbelles and Soil Conservation.

 Frank and Elizabeth moved to Weiser in 1988. They sold the ranch for $260,000 and then auctioned the equipment and cattle. They were married for 56 years, until Frank passed away in 1996.

 Cada is doing well and living an independent life at home in Weiser. When asked about her secret to longevity, she admits it is a bit of a mystery. Living on a ranch at South Crane Creek with clean air, wide open spaces and lots of hard work is part of it. 

 Certainly, good genes run in the family. One brother lived to 97 and another sibling lived until the age of 98. Her mother lived to be 90. She has outlived all 10 of her brothers and sisters.

 These days, her daughter Fran takes care of what she needs. Fran calls every night to see how her mother is doing.

 “I’m looked after very well,” Elizabeth said.