MINOT (AP) - Cora Odland hasn't let age get in the way of life.

Odland, who was born 106 years ago this month, still enjoys exercising, reading and listening to music.

She was born in Clifford on Oct. 13, 1900, and learned about hard work while growing up on her parents' farm, where she had to haul coal for heat in the winter.

Odland graduated from Granville High School as valedictorian of her class in 1919, and went to college in Valley City, where she earned a teaching certificate.

She taught for 10 years in a number of North Dakota towns.

"She only had six months or a year of college at that time," said Harding Sollid, a nephew. "There was no college like it is today."

She and her husband, Swen, got off to a rocky start in their farming life when they lost all of their crops to hail one year.

"He (Swen) was going buy her a winter coat in 1940, but he couldn't because (the farm) got hailed out," said Hilton Sollid, another nephew.

Odland had no children, but was known for taking care of others and helping her neighbors, the Sollids said.

Odland moved to Velva in 1975, after her husband died, and then to Trinity Homes in Minot five years ago.

She has a speech impediment, but the Sollids said she still keeps her wry sense of humor and keen intellect.