Crist was born as Adeline Siebe in San Francisco, California, USA, on 14 February 1862. Her parents were Nicolaus George Siebe (1839–1886) and Adeline Siebe (1840–1930), both German immigrants. She had a younger brother named Henry, who passed away in 1886, aged 3. Her younger sister, Carolyn Siebe Bilger (1873–1977), lived to be 103 years old. Her grandmother lived to be 99.

Following her marriage to Rudolph Crist, she moved to Oakland. The couple had two children.

Around the age of 105, she broke her hip and moved into a nursing home. At the age of 109, she had three great-grandchildren. Her daughter, Adele Notthoff (1899–2000), lived to be 101.

Crist died in Oakland, California, USA, on 10 January 1974, at the age of 111 years, 330 days.