Leora Juliet Rydland

Leora was born in Van Hook, North Dakota June 18, 1921. The family movedto Franklin, Minnesota in 1922. In 1937 they moved to Peterson,Minnesota. She attended schools in Franklin and graduated from PetersonHigh School on June 1, 1939. Leora was active in high school and was acheer leader 1938/1939. She played basketball and injured her back in afall. This injury caused her to have a great deal of pain throughout herlife.
Leora was my special cousin and we enjoyed many happy times at LakeCrystal. After graduation, Leora moved to Minneapolis and took a job atNorthwestern Bank. When I finished medical secretarial school at Collegeof Commerce in Minneapolis in 1942, I moved to the Pillsbury Girls Cluband shared a room with Leora. We both worked in downtown Minneapolis.After Leora's father's death November 12, 1942, Aunt Esther moved to ahome in St. Louis Park. Leora and I occupied the house with cots, applecrates for tables, etc. until Esther and the family arrived. We bothlived there for several months.
Leora and Dick were married in Mason City, Iowa on May 22, 1944 and shewent with him to Virginia Beach, Virginia. When Dick left for the SouthPacific Leora returned to St. Louis Park and lived with Dick's parents.
Leora continued to work at the bank as her family grew to four children.She became a trust officer for the bank. She and Dick were divorcedsometime in 1966. Leora made many lovely craft items that she sold underthe name Mother Nature Crafts, Leora Dickinson, 9114 Cedar Lake Road, St.Louis Park, MN 55426. She gave me a piece with owls for my collection.
Leora married Arthur Mc White. She became very ill in 1978 and wentthrough chemotherapy and cobalt treatments, also had surgery for a brokenhip. She died of pancreatic cancer March 19, 1979. She is buried inFort Snelling National Cemetery.
Leora and Dick had four children: John and James Dickinson, SusanWinter, and Kathleen Fagerholm.
John attended Annapolis Military Acadamy; Susan attended University inSantiago, Chile. She aspired to be a journalist.