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Irene Thoes Irene, and her twin sister Lucille, were born January 21, 1923, to the Moehman family of Manhattan, Kansas. At the age of two and a half, their mother passed away. Irene, Lucile, and another sibling, were taken to an orphanage in Topeka, Kansas, where Irene and Lucile were adopted by Ed and Carrie Soelter—who lived on a farm south of Wamego, Kansas. Irene met Bud Thoes in the mid 1940's when he sheared sheep for the Soelter's They married in 1948 and moved to Bud's farm south of Alma, Kansas. In 1977, they moved back to the Soelter place. Bud passed away in 1989. Irene lived on the farm until her eyesight became an issue and then moved into assisted living in nearby Wamego. Irene recently celebrated her 100th birthday with over 125 guests attending from at least 10 states. Mark Feiden and Farrell Hoy, along with Paul Miller, met with Irene to record these stories on August 7, 2021. Mary and Betty 1:52 Wamego, Kansas, 2021 You Name It 5:38 Wamego, Kansas, 2021 Mom and Dad 1:43 Wamego, Kansas, 2021 Had to be Done 2:18 Wamego, Kansas, 2021 Flint Hill Five 2:18 Wamego, Kansas, 2021 Return to the Index