Walter Breuning was born in Melrose, Minnesota.
He was the son of John and Cora (née Morehouse) Breuning, and had two brothers and two sisters.
In 1901, when he was 5, his family moved to De Smet, South Dakota, where he went to school for nine years until his family broke up in 1910.
Breuning referred to this time as "the dark ages", as his family lived without electricity, water, or plumbing.
Apart from his parents, who died at 50 and 46, longevity runs in Breuning's family.
His paternal and maternal grandparents lived into their 90s and his siblings lived to ages 78, 85, 91, and 100.
His only surviving family at the time of his death were 1 niece and 3 nephews (all in their 80s), plus great-nieces and great-nephews.

In 1910, aged 14, Breuning dropped out of school and began scraping bakery pans for $2.50 weekly.
He joined the Great Northern Railway in 1913, working for it for more than fifty years.
During his early years, Breuning commented that he would have to hide from owner James J. Hill, as Hill did not want any railroad employees under the age of 18 (Breuning was first hired at age 17).
Breuning worked for the Great Northern Railway until age 66, and was also a manager/secretary for the local Shriner's club until age 99.
During World War I, he signed up for military service, but was never called up.
When World War II began, he was too old to serve.
He moved to Montana in 1918, where he continued working as a clerk for the Great Northern Railway.
There, he met Agnes Twokey, a telegraph operator from Butte.
He was married to her from 1922 until her death in 1957.
They had no children, and it was believed that Breuning never remarried, as he stated that "Second marriages never work; even first marriages don't work today."
However, after his death, a marriage certificate was located, revealing that he married Margaret Vanest on October 5, 1958; she died on January 15, 1975.

Breuning was a Freemason, and a member of Great Falls Lodge No.
118, Great Falls, Montana, for over 85 years.
He held the 33rd Degree of the Scottish Rite.
Walter Breuning was born in Melrose, Minnesota. He was the son of John and Cora (née Morehouse) Breuning, and had two brothers and two sisters. In 1901, when he was 5, his family moved to De Smet, South Dakota, where he went to school for nine years until his family broke up in 1910. Breuning referred to this time as "the dark ages", as his family lived without electricity, water, or plumbing. Apart from his parents, who died at 50 and 46, longevity runs in Breuning's family. His paternal and maternal grandparents lived into their 90s and his siblings lived to ages 78, 85, 91, and 100. His only surviving family at the time of his death were 1 niece and 3 nephews (all in their 80s), plus great-nieces and great-nephews.
In 1910, aged 14, Breuning dropped out of school and began scraping bakery pans for $2.50 weekly. He joined the Great Northern Railway in 1913, working for it for more than fifty years. During his early years, Breuning commented that he would have to hide from owner James J. Hill, as Hill did not want any railroad employees under the age of 18 (Breuning was first hired at age 17). Breuning worked for the Great Northern Railway until age 66, and was also a manager/secretary for the local Shriner's club until age 99. During World War I, he signed up for military service, but was never called up. When World War II began, he was too old to serve. He moved to Montana in 1918, where he continued working as a clerk for the Great Northern Railway. There, he met Agnes Twokey, a telegraph operator from Butte. He was married to her from 1922 until her death in 1957. They had no children, and it was believed that Breuning never remarried, as he stated that "Second marriages never work; even first marriages don't work today." However, after his death, a marriage certificate was located, revealing that he married Margaret Vanest on October 5, 1958; she died on January 15, 1975.
Breuning was a Freemason, and a member of Great Falls Lodge No. 118, Great Falls, Montana, for over 85 years. He held the 33rd Degree of the Scottish Rite.
Walter Breuning