Hover Manor resident Dorothy Carlson approaches 100th birthday with energy

Jan. 14—Dorothy Carlson, a resident at Hover Manor independent living apartments in Longmont, says she hasn't given much thought to her upcoming 100th birthday. For her, it's just another year.

Carlson, who turns 100 Thursday, moved to Longmont eight years ago in part to be closer to her daughter, Linnea, who lives between Longmont and Berthoud. At Hover Manor, she stays active by cleaning her apartment by herself every week and doing her own laundry.

"People here regularly tell her what an inspiration she is," Linnea Carlson said. "She walks every day, she reads every day. She doesn't give up on any of that."

Originally from Iowa, Dorothy Carlson and her three siblings were brought up with music "24 hours a day," she said. She was taught how to play the French horn by her parents, who were music teachers.

Dorothy Carlson met her husband, Jack, in high school, and the two were married for 66 years. During World War II, Dorothy Carlson trained with the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps while Jack Carlson served in the Air Force.

The war ended around the time Dorothy Carlson graduated from nursing school, so going overseas didn't end up being necessary. However, she was still able to put her training to use in her long career as a nurse in Iowa, eventually retiring at age 62.

A lover of a wide variety of literature, Dorothy Carlson is an avid reader. She said she usually finishes at least one book per week.

"I've got a whole pile of books in my bedroom," she said. "For my birthday, I'll probably get more."

Despite getting COVID-19 last year, Dorothy Carlson hasn't been deterred from any of her usual activities, from walking to reading to cleaning. Linnea Carlson said she and her mom regularly visit nearby McIntosh Lake when the weather is nice.

"Mom is kind of like the Energizer Bunny: she goes and goes and goes," Linnea Carlson said.