Former Willard resident celebrates her 101st birthday

Frankie Seaman Reid celebrated her 101st birthday at her daughter Janet Morgan's home in Arizona City, AZ on Feb. 2.

Reid lived in Rosebud for 67 years, moving with her daughter shortly before her 100th birthday. Reid said she doesn't feel any older than she did 20 years ago. She misses her friends in Rosebud and with the pandemic she has had no company and as a friendly outgoing person that has been difficult for her.

Reid reminisced about her growing up years by Willard, between Baker and Ekalaka. Being one of 14 kids, she played with her siblings instead of having friends outside the home. Walking over a mile to and from school and during the lunch period everyday contributed to a healthy lifestyle. She remembers a year that it was 72 degrees below zero when they were walking to school, but "it was no big deal. We were acclimated to it and dressed for it," she said.

Frankie married Joe Reid in 1946 and moved to Forsyth and then Rosebud. There was no running water in the town and heat was provided by coal furnaces. Water lines were installed and in 1962, Les Seaman, Reid's brother, an employee of MDU, helped get natural gas into Rosebud. The residents signed a petition to have gas pipes put in so they would no longer have to haul coal. Reid's mother-in-law Matilda Reid lived just across the street from the city limits, but with Seaman's urging, MDU agreed to include her home in the addition of the gas lines.

Reid has one living brother. Donald Seaman lives in Spearfish, SD and will be 97 years old in July.

"I wouldn't have changed a thing in my life", said Reid.

She misses Rosebud and doesn't really like living in Arizona. She did say she would love to hear from old friends, and cards and letters can be mailed to her at P.O. Box 2332, Arizona City, AZ 85123.