Pistol Packing Grandma reaches 100

Oh, the stories she can tell! Her grandchildren affectionately call her "pistol packing grandma," said Marion Hill, because when she was younger, she hunted deer, antelope, pheasants and jackrabbits. "It was bounty money. That's how we had money to buy more shells," she laughed.

She drove the family's 1927 Chevrolet passenger car to the country school while in the seventh grade. She would sit on her sister's lap to see out the window and steer while her sister pressed the foot pedals. In the early 1920s, "cars were $600 to $700," Marion said. What a great deal now, but at that time it was approximately one year's wages. Prior to the great invention of the automobile, the family had a horse and buggy to get to town 6 1/2 miles away.

Marion's family was self-sustaining on their land in South Dakota. The family farmed and had "cows for milk and cream," she said. She was raised there with her parents, six sisters and one brother. Marion was born in South Dakota 100 years ago.

Saturday, Sept. 30, Marion celebrated her 100th birthday. A fun fact, "About one in every 5,000 people in the United States is a centenarian-someone who's 100 or more years old – and about 85 percent of them are women." There were approximately 50 family members and friends who traveled from South Dakota, Minnesota, California, Colorado, Davenport and Geneva to honor the centenarian on her big day. The festivities included a luncheon at the local winery, birthday cake and a "roast and toast" from her daughter, Karen. A violinist, a guitarist, and country singer that yodels were all family members who shared their talent in music and singing. Leona and Jon Scoville were among the friends in attendance. Jon sang Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? Her century birthday wasn't the only exciting birthday she has had.

A couple of her other more recent birthdays were quite a hit too. She had always wanted to ride a motorcycle. Micheal, her grandson, rented a three-wheeler, Harley Davidson with sidecar for Marion's 99th birthday. Marion was thrilled to ride around in it!

For Marion's 97th birthday, family gathered for the party. There was music playing in the background, family chatting, and the usual get together fun happening. However, the astonishing moment was when Karen was gently setting Marion's birthday cake onto her mom's lap, when the song on the radio began to play Happy Birthday, Darlin by Conway Twitty. There were a lot of oohs and ahhs about the impeccable timing of that one.

So how did this family get so large? While in South Dakota, Marion married John Erwin Bauer, a blacksmith and welder. Together they had three children: Karen, Jon and Dale. From these children Marion now has six grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

However, Marion had a big scare that could have ended the opportunity for her to see all these loved ones. When Karen was pregnant with her son Micheal, Marion had a visit to her own physician. Marion had been a chain smoker for 40 years. She was experiencing lung issues and had a "spot on her lung," said Karen. The concerned and forthright, doctor asked Marion, "Do you want to live to see your grandson be born?" Marion had the sudden realization of what she needed to do. She has not smoked since. "Mike saved my life," Marion said. Fortunately, the spot ended up being benign.

Living to a 100 years old means outliving many others. Sadly, she lost two sisters and her brother when they were young children. She experienced the heartache of losing both of her sons. Both of her husbands are deceased. Her first love, John, died from a heart attack at the age of 50. Later, Marion married Orville Hill, a rancher from Ree Heights, South Dakota. When Orville retired at age 62, the two moved to Carefree, Arizona. Orville died 15 years later. Marion stayed in Arizona another five years then moved to Nebraska.

Marion purchased a condominium in Geneva. This relocation was a five hour drive to where Karen and husband John Meyer, lived in the Black Hills. Marion developed friendships in the community and within her complex. During Marion's time at the condo, Karen and John had been searching for a house to buy closer to her mother. After a five-year search, they found a unique A-frame house they were looking for just outside the city limits of Superior. The move made the drive to Marion about an hour away. Over time, Marion's friends and neighbors died leaving her feeling lonely. She wanted to check herself into a nursing home, during COVID, but Karen insisted her mother live with them in Superior. One year after Marion's move to Superior, John died. Marion and Karen appreciate each other's company and living in the country.

Marion relishes the view of the outdoors and being with family. Whether she sits in her lift recliner in the house or in a chair outside on the patio, Marion enjoys watching the trees and the moon. And just last week, what a sight the last harvest moon for this year was, so big and bright in the sky. When she's not observing nature, Marion enjoys doing Sudoku and crossword puzzles, watching good ole Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful soap operas, as well as Jeopardy and other game shows. Playing cards is a given activity when family visits. She is the queen at playing the Rummy card game; always winning. One of her favorite things to do is go for car rides to get ice cream then sit at the park to eat it.

Marion attributes her longevity to "being with family." When asked for what she thought is the best advice for we younger folk, Marion replied, "always look on the brighter side of things."