This weekend marks Elizabeth (Betty) Gilgen’s first 100th birthday - her son Phil Gilgen says she has another 100 years to go.

Betty’s family will mark the first occasion with style – she’ll take a birthday drive in her favourite classic car, the 1934 Dodge Street Rod.

Betty was born Elizabeth Mary Pennell in Dargaville on February 7, 1926, to parents Isobella, who died when Betty was young, and Harry. She had an older sister, Dolly, and a brother, Jack.

Harry’s job as an engineer meant Betty lived all over the country while her father worked on various projects.

Betty watched “Pop” work on the Rakaia Bridge, on White Island, and in Hawke’s Bay after the 1931 earthquake.

“He could build anything,” Betty said.

Betty Gilgen and her father, Harry Pennell. Photo / Supplied

Her nomadic upbringing was why she could be fiercely independent, Phil said.

She inherited her passion for construction, water and textiles from Pop.

Phil said Betty had “Pop’s engineer’s eye for detail” and “monitored the Bayfair bridge pile progress”.

“NZTA should be reassured by her approval.

“Some mothers like tea and scones on outings, Betty enjoys watching the 50-tonne HEB gantries moving bridge beams.”

Phil said Betty particularly liked elegant bridges, and enjoyed jumping up and down on the McLaren Falls pedestrian bridge.

Not only was Betty fascinated with bridges, but she also enjoyed swimming.

Her Pop always told her, “If you fall in the river, let the current take you. Don’t fight it”.

Betty Gilgen as a baby. Photo / Supplied

Her primary school pool was a nearby river. The school had to put a fence around the river to stop water babies like Betty from going for a dip or being swept away.

Betty also had “extremely good sewing and millinery skills,” spinning possum, alpaca, and mohair wool into garments, rugs, and blankets.

During World War II, Betty hand-sewed pockets onto officers’ uniforms.

She continued working in textiles through the 1950s. From the 1960s onwards, she worked in plant nurseries until she retired about 60.

She belonged to Creative Fibre, a New Zealand organisation for fibre crafts and textile arts, and attended nearly every annual conference until about 12 years ago.

Phil said she was also an excellent cook who “produced everything perfectly and all ready at the same time”.

“Her shortbread was legendary.”

Betty Gilgen on a motorbike in 2019, aged 93. Photo / Supplied

Betty’s travels led her to Auckland, where she married architect Peter Kidson in 1947.

Phil was the first child, born in 1948. Suzanne followed in 1952, then came Mary in 1956, who was born shortly before Peter’s death the same year.

Betty remarried in 1958 to Swiss immigrant and horticulturist Ernst Gilgen, who died in 2005.

“He was a second father to us,” Phil said.

Ernst and Betty tramped all around New Zealand together.

Betty and Ernst Gilgen. Photo / Supplied

Betty moved from Auckland to the Bay of Plenty in 2020 to be closer to family when she had bowel surgery and, when someone remarked “the good Lord wasn’t ready for you”, Betty retorted “No, the other bloke”.

Betty had 18 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren to carry on her legacy.

“That’s five generations,” Phil said.

“It’ll be six generations by her next 100th birthday.”