Belle McCormick

BIOGRAPHY

Belle McCormick was born in Billings, Montana, USA, on 2 May 1906, to parents Thomas Christian Malmstrom (1874–1952) and Ella May Parker (1879–1947). Her father was born in Sweden. She had three siblings, including Mae Lucille Bishop (1901–1962) and James Thomas Malmstrom (1903–1976). She grew up on a ranch, where she learned to ride horses.

In the fall of 1925, at just 19 years old, she began teaching in Yellowstone County, Montana. With only six months of teacher training, she was hired and sent to a one-room schoolhouse with five or six students. Due to the harsh winter weather, school was held only six months of the year. Each day, she rode a horse to and from the small schoolhouse—her first teaching experience. After a year, homesick and lonely, she returned to Billings to continue her education and pursue a career. There, she met Bill McCormick, who would later become her husband. She was 29, and he was 40.

The couple had three daughters: Mary Ellen, Maggie, and Annie. In 1951, the family moved to Morgan Hill, drawn by the milder climate to help with Mary Ellen’s health concerns. Belle took a substitute teaching job at Machado Elementary School and later earned her degree. She went on to teach at Burnett School, which later became the Central High School campus. In 1966, she transitioned to San Martin School, where she served as vice principal.

When Belle retired from teaching in 1973, she remained active, volunteering and learning new skills. She studied stained glass window making under her former third-grade student, Tim Lantz, and also mastered the craft of caning chairs. Never one to shy away from hands-on work, she even built a small barn and installed a wooden fence on her property by herself.

In 1987, the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce recognized her as “Woman of the Year” for her years of teaching and volunteer service. She was actively involved with the American Cancer Society Thrift Shop in Gilroy, the Children’s Home Society, and the Friends of the Morgan Hill Library. She also played a key role in the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Women in Education, serving as president and area director, raising scholarship funds for aspiring teachers. Additionally, she dedicated many years to St. Catherine’s Altar Guild, overseeing the care of the altar linens.

In 2006, she donated a bell from a 1906 Baldwin steam locomotive—once a cherished feature in her home’s yard—to the Morgan Hill Historical Society.

Belle McCormick passed away Morgan Hill, California, USA, on 1 March 2017, at the age of 110 years, 303 days. She was survived by daughters Margaret Escover and Annie Saso, as well as 10 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Eli Logan, Jimmy Lindberg, and Stefan Maglov, and validated by LongeviQuest on 19 March 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Celebrating 109 years of life” – Morgan Hill Times, 7 May 2015

* “Happy birthday, Belle: Morgan Hill woman celebrates 110 years” – Morgan Hill Life, May 2016

* Belle McCormick Obituary – San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times, 8 March 2017

* Thomas Christian Malmstrom – Find A Grave

GALLERY

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