Rating:

5.0 (4 votes)

Walter Breuning, the world's oldest living man and a long-time Great Falls resident, is hospitalized in stable condition.

Through an anonymous tip KRTV learned that the 114 year old man has been hospitalized since last Thursday.

Benefis Health system has confirmed to us that he is a patient, but can not say how long he's been at the hospital.

Rainbow Senior Living staff and Benefis officials are requesting that no outside visitors attempt to see Mr. Bruening, noting that visitations from any non-essential personnel could put his recovery in jeopardy.

The Walter Breuning fan page on Facebook posted a status update that reads: "You may have heard and it is true he is in the hospital. He is in stable condition and we hope to have him back at his home The Rainbow soon. Walter would like to thank everyone for their well wishes and thoughts."

Walter has lived in Great Falls since 1918 and has called the Rainbow home since 1979.

He's been the world's oldest man since 2009 and is currently listed as the second-oldest person in the world.

The Rainbow will celebrate 100 years later this week; one of the events planned for the celebration is a conversation between Bruening and Governor Brian Schweitzer; it remains to be seen if those plans will be affected.

Breuning was born on September 21, 1896, in Melrose, Minnesota, and came to Great Falls in 1918, with the expansion of the railroad. He worked for the railroad for over 50 years.