Beginning in July, the Prairie View Healthcare Community Activity Department will be selecting a Resident of the Month. The person selected will be featured in a news article in the Sanborn Weekly Journal.
The Resident of the Month for July is Adaline Schlegel. Adaline celebrated her 95th birthday this past April. When asked her advice on how to achieve a long, happy life, Adaline replied, “We can all do things we don’t think we can. Just try and take a chance.”
Adaline’s “can do” and “positive attitude” philosophy shines throughout her life. She served as the Jerauld County Register of Deeds. After her job at the courthouse, Adaline moved to Pierre, where she was employed as the Land Sale Commissioner for the Department of School and Public Lands.
After retiring from state government, Adaline moved to Cape Coral, Fla. There she worked part-time at a realtor’s office. She enjoyed Florida for five years, but missed the changing seasons in South Dakota. When she did move back to her home state, she lived first in Sioux Falls and then moved back to an apartment in her hometown of Wessington Springs.
Adaline Marie was born in Wessington Springs on April 24, 1921, the youngest of four children of Edward and Lydia Theurer. Her dad lovingly nicknamed her “Babe.” Lydia was a homemaker, and Edward worked at the first power plant in town. Growing up, Adaline recalls that the family did not have a car, so walking was a necessity. She remembers fondly how that led to a lifelong love of walking.
At one of her first jobs, Adaline met her future husband, Armour Schlagel. Armour was from Corsica but had moved to Wessington Springs to operate a café. Adaline worked at the Schlagel Café as a waitress while also being employed at K&K Department Store. The couple married and continued living in Wessington Springs. Armour, being a skilled carpenter, built them several homes along with many other houses in town. They were active members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
Armour and Adaline raised two children, Ronald and Debra. Adaline has one granddaughter and two great-grandsons.
A treasured memory for Adaline is the couple’s love of dancing. They had so much fun traveling to dances and especially enjoyed Lane’s Rainbow Ballroom and Ruskin Park.
Living and growing up in a small town played a large part, Adaline says, in her happiness and enjoyment of her past 95 years.
About four years ago, she came to make her home at Prairie View in Woonsocket. There she appreciates the staff and the comfortable, pleasant living.