Everall Holman to turn 100 in September

Malta's Everall Holman will turn 100 years old on September 23, and he has seen a lot in his life. Besides being a longtime farmer, rancher and pilot in the area, Everall also has the distinction of quite possibly being the only person who has been to all 99 Phillips County Fairs.

"I was just a baby at the first one," Everall said. "I don't remember anything from that day, but I know my parents drove us kids there in a Model T."

Though he doesn't remember that first Phillips County Fair in 1916, he does know that he has eaten at least one cheeseburger from the 4-H Booth for at least 90 years and he said he has plans to have another burger at fair number 100.

"I'll be darned," he laughed, "if I make it that far."

Everall's parents, Jesse and Phillip, moved to Phillips County from Illinois in 1915, a year before he was born. Jesse, his mother, was a school teacher before moving to Montana, while Phillip was a farmer and rancher. The couple moved their family 17-miles northwest of Malta in Wagner. All told, Jesse and Phillip would have nine children, seven boys and two girls. Living long lives runs in the Holman family. Jesse lived to be 105 years old, receiving 100 roses on her 100th while Phillips reached the age of 97, passing one day before his 98th birthday. Everall's brother, Don, who is nearly 90 and living in Kalispell, is the only remaining sibling.

Though Everall is still sharp as tack at almost 100, he has the help of his wife of 33 years, Marion, and his buddy, Red Peterson, to keep him honest.

"You tell me if I make a mistake," he jokes with the two during this interview. .

Everall graduated from Dodson in 1933.

"That was a big accomplishment back then," Everall said.

His favorite subject back then was history – a topic he still enjoys – and the subject he could have lived without was English.

At one point the Holmans owned three ranches in Phillips County and about 10-years after graduating from high school, Phillip told Don and Everall that one of them was going to need to learn to fly in order to cut down on commuting times. Everall was game.

"In 1946 I bought an airplane," said Everall. "I bought it from my cousin in Chinook, he was about to get married. He said his future wife told him you can have me or the airplane. He chose her and I got the airplane."

Everall flew all over the northwest and usually it was smooth sailing. One night, however, things got a little wild for the pilot.

"It was getting late one night and I flew home," Everall remembers. "We had about 600 acres of land out at our place. Now the sun had been down awhile, but it wasn't too dark. I landed in the meadow there, a perfect three point landing, and you wouldn't believe it, but I hit water."

Everall said he landed the plane in about two or three inches of water and the plane's tail started to tip forward.

"I couldn't see anything," he explained. "And by God, I hit that muddy water and the engine died. That plane sat up on its nose for a couple of seconds and the next thing I knew I was hanging upside down from my seatbelt. I don't know many people that turned an airplane upside down like that. It only cost me $218 and a new propeller to get it fixed."

Everall flew for many years, until he felt that the hobby was too expensive and sold his plane in 1972. In 1976 Everall moved to Malta into the house he currently lives in. Everall is the father to four daughters. Judy lives in Great Falls, Lani lives in Missoula, Kathy lives in Denver and Kelly lives in Phillips County. Everall also has eight grandchildren.

Nowadays, Everall likes to sleep in late, watch the occasional episode of The Price is Right and drive around town with Red.

"We drive around and check on things," said Red.

"That or he has a nap," added Marion. "And then he gets on me about not waking him up when people stop by."

Everall and Marion have been married for 33 years.

"Every time we go on a trip somewhere I get to take a trip back in time," Red said. "He's like a time capsule and he tells me everything."

"This gal (Sue Kaluza) where we go to get our hair done, just loves when Everall will come in," added Marion. "He's always telling her some history. He is a walking history book."