Ethel Callahan, a resident at Life Care Center of Bothell, celebrated her 100th birthday Nov. 24.

Born in Dickinson, N.D., Callahan had three brothers and two sisters. Her father was a carpenter, her mother a homemaker. The family owned a cow, which the children had to walk to the church pasture on the way to school during the day to graze. They would take it back home with them after classes.

Callahan was born with one leg shorter than the other (hip dysplasia, not a diagnosed condition at the time). She used to saw off one of her heels to make her shoes even.

In 1924, the family moved into a brick house her father built in Kirkland. Callahan graduated from Kirkland High School in 1927. During high school, she worked at the local five-and-dime store. She was good at tennis and went to the high school championships – quite an accomplishment with her hip dysplasia.

After high school, Callahan worked for King County, becoming its first female manager. She managed the auto and marriage licensing department for more than 40 years. She herself wed Walter Callahan, though the couple had no children. She was a flapper in her younger years and was also known for rescuing white boxer dogs. She used to be a Daughter of the Nile.

Life Care Center of Bothell, located at 707 228th St. S.W., is one of 18 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Washington operated by Life Care Centers of America. For more information, visit www.lcca.com.