McAlister celebrates 90 years

Peg McAlister said her goal was to live to 90, and she will be happy with whatever comes after that.

Peg said staying physically and mentally active is what keeps her going. She turned 90 years old Monday, and Sunday her friends at the Saratoga Presbyterian Church had a reception for her.

Peg likes to be involved. She said she has had a lot of difficulties, but also a lot of fun. "Faith in God can get you through the low times and remembering lots of good times."

Peg worked in the newspaper industry in California and saw a lot of changes in her 30-year career. She did not work as a reporter, but started by answering the phones and taking dictation over the phone from reporters in the field. She then eventually became the editor's secretary.

"When I started at the newspaper, we were using manual typewriters. When I retired, we were starting on the first computers," Peg said.

"No day was ever the same," Peg said, "you never knew what was going to come out [working at a newspaper]," Peg said.

Peg grew up and attended college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from Coe College with a degree in elementary education.

Peg went to college during World War II, which meant there were no men in college, as many of them had gone off to war. One of her homecoming games during that period was a women's field hockey game, Peg said.

Her senior year, the men returned from war and started attending college. "That was a wild, fun time. So different from my first three years," Peg said.

"The one good thing about those first three years, there wasn't anything to do, so you studied," Peg said.

Peg's husband had been a Marine, and she met him the year she graduated. He had just returned from the war. They were married near campus and the college put up a Quonset hut village for all the returning soldiers and families. "We had no money ... but I think it was the most fun I had ever had," Peg said.

"We were all in the same boat, we were all young," Peg said. They lived in the Quonset huts rent free and could go to all the college activities at no charge. "It was a very fun, social time. We were all equal," Peg said. "We didn't think anything about (not having any money), we walked everywhere or use the city bus," Peg recalled.

For two years, Peg and her husband lived in the Quonset huts. Before moving to the campus, they had an apartment with a Murphy bed for about two months. Peg described the Quonset huts as having two living spaces, each with two bedrooms.

Victor's jobs moved them all over the Midwest, including Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. Victor was training to be a manager at a five and dime store. During their time in St. Louis, she worked as a teacher.

Victor didn't like the harsh winters, so they moved to California. He found work and eventually Peg and the children followed. Peg said after living so close to her parents in Cedar Rapids, it was hard to leave her mother behind.

"My mother was so upset," Peg said.

She retired in 1992, and moved to Saratoga. She and her husband, Victor, fell in love with Saratoga when they came to visit their son Doug.

Her son Dennis still lives in California, as well as her daughter Darcy Robson. Another daughter, Debra Rumble, is moving from Alaska to Arizona.

Peg has nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Peg volunteers at the Platte Valley Food Pantry. She remembers when the food pantry was started in various churches in the Valley as people would contact the churches for help. Peg began volunteering through the Presbyterian Church and when people needed help, she would meet them at the church.

"We didn't have a big storage area, so it was mostly dry food," Peg said. The ministers of the churches got together with the Food Bank of the Rockies and it developed into the Platte Valley Food Pantry.

Peg said she and Pastor Gene Smith, of the Platte Valley Christian Center, were trying to figure out how long the Platte Valley Food Pantry has been operating.

Peg said she doesn't have any set hours at the pantry, and now because of her poor eyesight, she can't drive. The pantry is open three times a month and volunteers, including Peg, run the pantry once a month. She explained people can call for help and volunteers will open the pantry.

Peg used to meet people who couldn't come when the food pantry was open, but now she is no longer able to do that.

One year ago, Peg had a stroke in her eye, which caused optic nerve damage. There is no treatment. She was told by her eye doctor, Beverly Nott, her eyes should not get any worse, but that she would no longer be able to drive. Peg is still trying to get used to not getting in the car and driving where she wants to go.

Peg said she can still see blue sky, white clouds and the snow in the winter. She was able to watch a couple of fawn deer play in her yard after the interview.

"I am very grateful that I live in Wyoming," Peg said. She explained the state of Wyoming has a program that provides reading machines and books on tape.

Sadly, Victor died four years after they retired to Saratoga. They had been married 49 years, six months.

"This community is a blessing," Peg said. "I am so glad I am living here. I like people. I have not met a person that has not been a very nice person."

Peg said her church has helped her get through the tough times.