Rockford woman celebrates 104th birthday

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Doris Oncken, who lives at the Wesley Willows retirement home, turned 104 years old on Wednesday.

She celebrated her big day surrounded by friends, family, and staff at the complex, located at 4141 N Rockton Avenue.

There were plenty of cupcakes, balloons, and flowers ready for the birthday girl.

Oncken said she spent most of her life in Belvidere with her husband, Rod, before they retired to Friendship, Wisconsin.

Her secret to such a long life?

“Well, drink your milk and behave yourself,” she said. “I always said I lived to this age because I was born on the farm and I drank milk directly from a cow. And it didn’t have to Pasteurized, or anything, and by golly it stuck with me all these years. And I’m very happy with it.”

Oncken’s younger sister, Betty, lives in North Carolina.

She’s 101.