Katherine Rendleman celebrated her 97th birthday Monday with her daughter, Patricia Thomas, and son-in-law, Robert Thomas, along with her friends at Skyline Estates Senior Living in Carson City.
Born Dec. 7, 1918, in St. Louis, Ill., to parents John and Kate Gillespie, Katherine was married her sweetheart of 74 years, James Rendleman, who passed away at 92 in 2009. James and Katherine have four children — James Paul Rendleman, deceased, Carolyn Johnson of San Jose, Calif.; Patricia Thomas of Carson City; and Richard Rendleman, deceased. Katherine has nine grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She credits her longevity to being from a close-knit family.