Lifelong Jerauld County resident Helmuth Neuharth turned 100 years of age on Tuesday, May 12 with a big party at the Wessington Springs elementary school.

Surprised by the fifth graders, who each year conduct an “Adopt a grandparent” program at Weskota Manor Avera retirement, Helmuth was surprised as he entered the school buildling.

He was so impressed with the students and their classrooms that he didn’t have a lot to say about his 100th birthday. “This is just amazing,” he said of the classrooms as the students offered their congratulations.

Nearly every student in the elementary building, which houses grades K-8 signed greetings that were posted in the halls. As he entered the fifth grade classroom a giant “100″ adorned the doorway with a large cutout in one of the zeroes to allow entry for Helmuth and his motorized chair.

Born on a farm north of Alpena in 1909, his birth came just 26 years after the community was formed. He attended classes in Alpena where he enjoyed band, orchestra and basketball. He attended Northern Industrial School –now Northern State University– in Aberdeen and became a country school teacher.

He later was in business with his father in Neuharth Grain Co. in Wessington Springs. He still likes to talk about the grain business and is able to differentiate between various types of grains.

After a stint as City Auditor for the town of Wessington Springs, he worked as the Jerauld County Memorial Hospital administrator. When he and Dr. Roscoe E. Dean decided the community needed a nursing home, they obtained land and spent many trips to Pierre during the legal process of building a nursing home. Helmuth became the first administrator at Weskota Manor –where, coincidentally, he and Dr. Roscoe are both current residents.

Helmuth and his wife Dorothy were avid campers, driving their motorhome with the Prairie Pals camper club once a month during the summer. He finally sold the camper when he was more than 90 years old.

An avid golfer, he was among those who had to foresight to construct a golf course during the 1960s in Wessington Springs. Through his efforts and the work of other volunteers, today’s Springs Country Club golf course is a testament to their work.

While in his eighties, Helmuth bought a 1956 Chevrolet and restored it, doing much of the work himself. The car had been in a shed where the roof had fallen and caved in the top. He laid on his back in the rear seat and kicked the top back into shape prior to the body work. Since the completion of the restoration the car has been seen in many Wessington Springs parades.

He had perfect attendance for 50 years in the Wessington Springs Kiwanis Club. He loves baseball –enjoying Minnesota Twins television broadcasts today– and spent many summer evenings manning the concession stand at the Springs ball park. Proceeds from the project were given back to the community as donations to the youth summer recreation programs.

He has been an active Mason and Shriner for more than 50 years, mainly because of his appreciation for the group’s chilren’s hospitals. Just this spring he attended the Shrine circus at the Mitchell Corn Palace with a group of residents from Weskota Manor. Helmuth wore his Shrine Fez and vest with pride during the trip.

Helmuth loves music and played in community bands or sang in various groups much of his life. If there was a community or church event in the future, you could expect Helmuth and his beloved Dorothy to be there.