The Wood River Valley's oldest citizen, Bellevue resident Chrystal Uhrig Harper, will celebrate another milestone in her long, rich life Saturday, June 28. Harper, a native of Idaho, is turning 103.
On Saturday, Blaine County residents—young and old—are invited to celebrate Harper's 103rd birthday. A party will take place at the Bellevue Museum from 1-3 p.m. Celebrants can enjoy ice cream, meet Harper and view a number of items from her past, including childhood toys, family portraits and even her wedding dress.
This is not Harper's first or second community honor. In 2006, Harper was nominated to be a lady of the 2006 Blaine County Heritage Court by the Blaine County Senior Connection. She was also the grand marshal of Bellevue's Labor Day parade, complete with chauffeur and assistant to help her in and out of a 1956 Ford Fairline.
Harper also has two framed letters congratulating her on turning 100, one from Idaho's former governor, Dirk Kempthorne, and the other from President George W. Bush.
According to Sharon Schrock, Harper's longtime friend and weekly shopping partner, Harper is in incredible shape. While her hearing and eyesight have weakened, she is still more than active, living on her own and dining with friends at the Senior Connection in Hailey.
Harper grew up the second youngest of six children on her father's ranch near Stanton Crossing, south of Bellevue. In 1924, she married Ed Harper. The couple moved to Long Beach, Calif., where they owned a dry-cleaning business. In 1942, they moved back to Idaho and Ed took a job with Sun Valley Co. He died in 1958. While she and Ed never had children, she does have a number of nieces and nephews.
Chrystal Harper recalls Blaine County history from her Bellevue home in 2006. Photo by Mountain Express
