Dena's RSVP Profile

LENNOX (SD) INDEPENDENT / January 29, 1987

(RSVP: Retired Senior Volunteer Program)

         
There is an old proverb that says, “she doesn’t let any grass grow under her feet!” And, that pretty well describes our lady of the Lennox RSVP group this week!

Our honoree on this occasion is Dena Plucker. She lives at 120 West Third Avenue in Lennox. One can see her traipse uptown or to the Lennox senior citizen corner (center) with a sure and steady stride. Living only a short distance from either, she has her daily walks!
 

Dena has been a volunteer for many years, but since 1985 a part of the senior program. She does much quilting at the center, and frequently serves during the noon meals. She has also been on the Lennox Life Enrichment for the Elderly (L.E.E.) Committee as a member and as a secretary completing her tenure this past year.

Dena for many years has used her musical talent to play in churches or in accompanying groups. She accompanied the Germantown Presbyterian church ladies’ trio for many years, and is the pianist for senior citizen groups and programs now. Not only did she learn piano and organ, but she also had nurse training for two years at the Huron hospital.

She began organ lessons early in life. When she was eight years old, her father purchased a piano. The purchase was made with “piano lessons thrown in,” so to speak, and the trips to Willow Lake were made by bobsled in winter time. She recalls that her hands were too numb to play, however her teacher had her warm them in a pan of hot water before beginning to play.

A young man she had met at Dubuque Academy earlier captured her heart, so instead of continuing with her nurse training, she married M.E.J. Plucker in Lennox, in 1924.

Her husband helped his father in the grain elevator on the west edge of Lennox, located on the Great Northern railroad line. For the first year and a half they lived in Lennox, then it was to Princeton, Illinois a short time, back to Dubuque for a year, and then back to South Dakota on a farm northeast of Chancellor. Moving was done by train. After five years, one more move – to the Plucker home place. Here they experienced all the difficult times of the depression – the “dirty 30’s” – along with good times. Here they reared three children.

During those years, Dena did the volunteer church work so many others also did; taught Sunday school, Junior Christian Endeavor, Vacation Bible school, Ladies’ Aid offices, and served as a piano accompanist.

Dena is a member of the Lennox American Legion Auxiliary. In that group, too, she has been a busy volunteer. At Christmas time she also helps at the Veterans Administration hospital in Sioux Falls, including shopping and wrapping Christmas gifts for patients. She also helps with bingo games there and at the Lennox Good Samaritan Center. She is a Chaplain among the officers of the Auxiliary. Whenever Dena has time for herself, she enjoys crocheting and making quilts for her grandchildren – there being ten – and also eight great-grandchildren. She also has had roles in the annual Lennox senior citizen plays.

This lady has done much traveling – from Lennox “to Timbuktu”! She has crossed the USA – New York to California, been to Alaska two times, and to New Mexico, Louisiana, and Washington State. [In 1979 she also made a trip to Luxembourg, France, Germany and Austria with her daughter, Jean.] She is a member of Faith Presbyterian Church and the women’s organizations, helping whenever and wherever needed.

Dena’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. E. Louis Thaden. She was born on a farm two and a half miles south of Chancellor. There was a full household – with 11 children. Dena was the fifth in line, and when she was only a year old the family moved to a farm near Willow Lake. She attended a country school, and walked one and a half miles daily or when necessary, traveled by bobsled during winter. After eighth grade graduation, she and a Bunger girl from Davis attended Dubuque Academy at Dubuque, Iowa for one year. Several other members of her family also went to school there, at the Academy College and Seminary. She has five brothers who went on to become church pastors.

Dena’s children are: Dorothy DeVries, Lennox; Robert Plucker, Mount Vernon, Washington; and Jean Straatmeyer, Tempe, Arizona.

  By Margaretta Bossman

(Below is the actual picture from the Lennox Independent about the RSVP crew. I can't help but notice that Dena is the prettiest one shown!)