87-летняя женщина из Уичито завершила детскую мечту и посетила все 50 штатов США

Wichita woman completes lifelong dream of visiting all 50 states WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) -Have you visited all 50 states in the U.S.? That’s what one Wichita woman just did, even after being told 47 years ago that she had five years to live. It’s been her lifelong dream. A dream since childhood Irene Rupert is 87 years old and just completed her lifelong bucket list, a dream to travel to every state in the country. She said growing up in rural Oklahoma, she never could have imagined it would happen. Rupert said, “It was just a dream.” Rupert said, “We could’ve made an honest living, but... we were very poor.” The final stop Last December, she made the last stop on that bucket list: South Carolina. Rupert said, “That was the last state I had to go in. From the time I was five until the time I was eighty-seven, is how long it took me to finish the bucket list.” Rupert has lived in 28 states, including Arkansas and Minnesota, before settling down in Wichita in 1990. Rupert said, “I came to Wichita because I was able to work.” Living with lupus There was a time when Rupert thought she wouldn’t be able to complete her bucket list. She has lupus. Rupert said, “Every bone hurts all the time... it doesn’t allow your immune system to work. A doctor told me I had five years to live.” That was 47 years ago. Since then, Rupert has been to Hawaii three times. She’s been to Las Vegas and Chicago. Rupert said, “I kinda outlived it.” Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email [email protected]