Vernice Doughten Will Become a Centenarian in October

On October 9, Vernice Doughten will celebrate her 100th birthday. To preserve her memory and the history of her life, Vernice’s grandson Rob Doughten composed her life story. In it, he tells the story of a resilient and religious woman who doesn’t count sheep to get to sleep; she talks to the Shepherd.

Born in 1921 to Helen (Gardner) and Frank Bergren, Vernice spent her early years living on the eastern plains of Montana in a small town called Twete, which was later renamed Hogeland. From the Big Flat, which is how many people refer to the area near the Canadian border, farm land stretches for...