Special People in Our Lives Get To Celebrate a Birthday Thursday

Steve graduated from Malta High School at the age of four, Janet graduated at age four, as well. Steve is now 17 and a grandfather. Needless to say, these two are indeed special.

Steve Baeth and his sister, Janet (Baeth) Veseth are only two of a large number of people, over 5 million, who only celebrate their birthday every four years. Those 5 million are a mere .1% of the population! This is because they were born in a Leap Year, on February 29th. They are known as "leapers" or "leaplings"...they have also called "cutie" or "sweetie pie" at a time.

In all modesty, neither Steve nor Janet acclaimed to be extra special or intellectually gifted to achieve and meet the requirements for graduating at age four; they were merely among those blessed with the special birthdate.

Baeth said he knew at a young age how special the day was because on his first birthday (when most babies turn one), his sister, Janet, was born and they have shared and enjoyed the special day together since then.

"The day was special because I got a baby sister," Baeth responded about any special birthday.

Veseth laughed, saying "We were born an hour apart...four years apart."

Both have enjoyed the novelty of the day, sometimes the "birthday" gets shoved forward or backward; they both said that they usually share it with family and friends.

Veseth said, "Dad (Roy Baeth) made sure the town knew our birthdays and NO ONE ever forgets it! Her favorite memory of celebrating is when she was about 12 and the day was spent with Grandpa and Grandma (Lewis and Clara) Henry.

Besides having a little cloud take over on Baeth's first birthday, he said the days often end up in a "family birthday" day of celebration; this year their gathering next week will be to observe 5-10 family birthdays.

Veseth said she recalls when she turned sixteen, dear brother, Steve, and his friends, including Pete Lumsden, decided she needed a spanking. She indicated they were not as wise in their thinking process as they thought they were!

Baeth recalled back in the day when the drinking age was 18, and he tried to buy beer, like any four and a half-year-old would do. That wasn't as easy as he thought it would be, either. The clerk wasn't fully comprehending the "leap year birthday" thing and put up a resistance...finally an older clerk who had been listening to the discussion yelled out, "SELL him the BEER!"

Neither Baeth nor Veseth have experienced much difficulty with using their age online for programs or applications. Baeth is more than likely one of the youngest to register for the Selective Service (the military draft) at four and a half years old, standing 41-43 inches tall...not even able to reach the gas pedal safely.

A family in the UK has a grandfather, father and daughter who are leapers, and are 21, 15, and 7 years of age. In the U.S. a mother-daughter share the birthday, the mother is now 11 and the daughter is four.

There are others in our community that share the unique day, including the daughter of the Phillips County Librarian, Crystal Klein. Her daughter, Kimber Lee Klein, who goes to school in Chinook. At the age of three (12 for some of us), she is a strong wrestler, who in Junior High is described by her mom as being, "...an animal (out there on the mat)! We wish all of them, and the other leapers, a Happy Birthday!