Maren Bolette Torp
- Full name: Maren Bolette Torp
- Lifespan: 21.12.1876 – 20.02.1989
- Age: 112 years, 61 days
- Birthplace: Fet Municipality (now Lillestrøm Municipality) Akershus fylke, Norway
- Last residence: Oslo, Oslo fylke, Norway
- Application date: N/A
- Validation date: 03.10.2000
- Validation source: Guinness World Records
Biography
Maren Bolette Torp was born in Fet, Akershus, Ostlandet, Norway on 21 December 1876 as the eldest of eight children born to Ludvig Christiansen (1850–1940) and Anne Nielsdatter (1848–1935). She grew up in the area and later came to Kristiania (present day Oslo). She met and married Ole Arnt Torp and had eight children together with him. She was widowed in 1929. She remained in Oslo for the rest of her life. She lived independently up until she was 95, after which one of her daughters helped care for her. Her daughter died in 1987 and Maren moved into a nursing home.
On 21 December 1986, she became the first supercentenarian from Norway (excluding Norwegian emigrants like Wilhelmine Sande and Herman Smith-Johannsen) and became the Norwegian longevity recordholder on 13 July 1988 at the age of 111 years, 205 days after suprassing Smith-Johannsen’s final age. On 21 December 1988, she was the first Norwegian person who celebrated her 112th birthday. At the age of 112, it was mentioned that she was fragile and was nursed in a hospital for several years.
Maren Bolette Torp died in Oslo, Ostlandet, Norway on 20 February 1989, aged 112 years, 61 days. At the time of her death, she was one of the oldest people in the world (she was even considered the world’s oldest living person until Jeanne Calment’s age was validated) and the third oldest living person in Europe behind Calment and Lydie Vellard, both from France.
At the final age of 112 years and 61 days, Maren Bolette Torp is the the oldest lived person in the history of Norway, inheriting the title from Norwegian-Canadian skier Herman Smith-Johannsen, who died just a year prior in 1987.
Longevity Attribution
Her secret to her long life was working and living a moderate life.
Life
Maren Bolette Torp was born on the small farmstead Logn under Østanes and grew up on the farm Moen in Fet, as the daughter of Ludvig Kristiansen (1850–1940) and Anne Nilsen (1848–1935). She was the oldest of eight siblings, which meant she had significant responsibilities at home. At thirteen, she began working at the farm Ersrud, where she stayed until it was time to prepare for her confirmation. Maren Bolette Moen was part of the first group to be confirmed in the new Fet Church. She recalled that she had to walk ten kilometers to get to the church but was able to get a ride back home to Moen.
In her youth, she tended to cattle and took on domestic work before training as a dairy worker at Fet Dairy—she also worked at Ånnerud.
To Kristiania
Like many rural youth at the turn of the last century, she moved to Kristiania (now Oslo). There, she met the dairy driver Ole Arnt Torp (1877–1929). They eventually had eight children, and according to the 1910 census, they were registered at the address Kierschows gate 3.
However, her husband passed away in 1929, leaving three of the children still unconfirmed. As a single mother, she had to hold several jobs simultaneously to keep the family out of poverty. According to the 1933 address book, “Widow Maren B. Torp” lived at Kildals gate 2, now known as Omsens gate, in Torshov. The 1965/66 address book also lists Torp at this address.
112 Years
According to local historian Jan Erik Horgen, many in Maren Torp’s family lived to “unusually old” ages, though none had reached 100 years. She managed on her own until she was 95 years old, but then received help from her eldest daughter, who had returned from America. The daughter, Agnes Laurense, passed away in 1987, and Maren Bolette Torp was then moved to the medical ward at Aker Hospital. As Norway’s oldest person, she was often visited by the mayors of Fet and Oslo. Albert Nordengen, the Conservative mayor of the capital, also made a point to honor his oldest party member.
A few days before her last birthday, in December 1988, she was visited by Aftenposten journalist Mette Tellander Berg and illustrator Ulf Aas.
“Maren Bolette Torp sits before us. A small, fragile figure in a large armchair. The world’s oldest person, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, 112 years old next Wednesday. She has full, white hair and a face like a finely crafted filigree. On her neat, white blouse, she wears a pearl necklace and a green pin bearing the coat of arms of her hometown Fet, the log driver’s hook.”
With some help from her daughter Ingrid, Torp spoke about her upbringing in Fet and life as a widow in Oslo. She also discussed current events, such as the earthquake in Armenia. She passed away two months later and was buried at Nordre Cemetery.
Maren Bolette Torp at age 100 and 106.
Maren Bolette Torp at age 108.
Longevity Recognition
- Doyenne of Norway (28.01.1984 – 20.02.1989)
- Oldest living person in Norway (28.01.1984 – 19.08.1986 ; 05.01.1987 – 20.02.1989)
- Longevity Recordholder of Norway (1986 ; 1988 – present)
Validation
The supercentenarian case of Maren Bolette Torp was meticulously examined and verified by the Guinness World Records, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) as of October 3, 2000.
Maren Bolette Torp on her wedding.
Maren Bolette Torp at age 111.
Maren Bolette Torp at age 111 and 112.
Maren Bolette Torp’s grave.
