Leota Dillon has seen a lot in her lifetime.
She was born in South Dakota the same year that World War I ended.
On April 3, Leota Dillon celebrated her 106th birthday with family and friends at Oakridge Assisted Living in Hastings where she has lived the last several years.
She’s seen and experienced a lot in her lifetime and enjoys telling of growing up in South Dakota, where she met her husband, Rodney, and they raised their family in the shadow of Mount Rushmore.
Leota appreciates every day and keeps busy crocheting. Numerous paintings she created adorn the walls of her apartment.
The Dillons moved to Hastings about 20 years ago. Rodney passed away six years ago. Leota says she loves living at Oakridge.
“They treat me like a queen,” she said. “They’ll serve everyone dinner, and then they come to me and say, ‘What would you like, Leota?’ I’m special I guess.”
Leota grew up on a farm. Their family moved to Keystone, SD where Mt. Rushmore was being built when she was about 14. Leota counts one of the biggest occasions of her life as meeting President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he came to check out the Mt. Rushmore construction project.
“I was 16. We made box lunches for the president and others visiting. My dad told me to take that to the president. He sat in his car, because he couldn’t walk. I handed him the box lunch, and he said, ‘You know, I think I’d like to shake your hand.’ I told my brothers I wasn’t going to wash that hand,” she recalled.
Her father worked on the Mt. Rushmore project as a winchman, bringing workers up and down the rock face. Her mother took care of the grandchildren of artist Gutzon Borglum, the creator of Mount Rushmore. Leota’s brother was Borglum’s chauffeur.
“My mother and I walked those 310 steps up to the top of Mount Rushmore. Going up was OK, but coming down was a little more difficult,” she said.
A few years later, a “chance” encounter would bring Leota and Rodney together. Leota worked 10-hour shifts in a local motel for $1 a day. Rodney owned a rock shop in the growing tourist area. He was walking his dog over his lunch and the story is that he let the dog wander Leota’s way where she was reading a newspaper on a park bench.
“He kind of sent that dog on me,” Leota laughed. “He knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to talk to me.”
“He was 18 and came 50 miles from where he lived to start this shop. I thought, ‘He’s only 18, and he’s so smart,’” Leota said.
The two married two years later and made a home in one of end of the building the store was in. She recalls having cats, a little deer and a skunk that had its sprayer removed, to use non-scientific language.
They raised three boys, Jerry, Bill and Linwood. Linwood and wife, Maureen, live in Hastings. Jerry passed away at age 60, and Bill passed away at age 80.
After the first two babies were born, Rodney was drafted into service in World War II, where he was a rifleman in the U.S. Army. The two were apart for three years, where Leota managed the home and provided for the family. They received $30 from the Army for Rodney’s service.
Before Rodney was drafted, they had just bought a home at an auction.
“He hadn’t got his draft notice. We had two little boys. We figured he was safe, so we went to an auction sale, and we bought a nice little log house for $250. It had a bedroom, living room and a kitchen and a back room for the washer. The washer had a motor on the back. We got back from the sale, and he got his notice. He had just bought a car, a 1936 Oldsmobile, a very nice car, and he was drafted to go in a month’s time. I had never driven a car before. I always rode along. We had this nice car, and I thought one morning, I can’t leave that car set there. I went out, got in the car and drove it. I had to teach myself how to drive a stick shift. I took off. I went about a mile out of town and back. I thought there’s no reason I can’t drive that car. From then on, I went wherever I wanted,” she said.
After the service, Rodney went to learn a trade on the G.I. Bill and became one of Rapid City’s top cabinet makers. They lived in Rapid Valley for 20 years where they built a home and rental properties for U.S. Air Force members.
From there, they moved to Florida, where they lived until relocating to Minnesota.
Leota says love of life and keeping busy keeps her going. She still works on crocheting and has samples of her rugs, blankets and Kleenex box holders around her apartment.
“I love to crochet. I love to stay active. I have to be doing something. I can’t just sit here,” she said.
In addition to crocheting, Leota still likes to read on her Kindle. That’s a far cry from when she was a kid.
“Our entertainment was we’d all gather around the kitchen table and read from the light of the lamp. That’s what we did,” she said.
She’s on what is considered hospice care now and has regular doctor visits and nurse care.
“I feel good,” she said. “My legs get sore, and I get a headache once in a while, but I’m fine.”
“Up until now, she’d only really been to the doctor five times,” said Linwood, “and three of them were to have babies.”
Linwood’s wife, Maureen, chimed in. “You’re so positive. You’re always more the cup is half full rather than half empty. She’s one of the most positive, upbeat people I know. That’s what keeps her going.”
