Meet the Oldest (and Sweetest) Living Person in South Dakota

Meet the oldest person in South Dakota: 107-year-old Virginia Mills. She was officially honored as the 2017 Centenarian of the year.

In Sioux Falls back in 1910 the Morrell packing plant was just a year old, the population was just over 14,000 and Virginia Mills was born. Her family later moved to Rutland, and then to Watertown, where she lives today.

Many knew Mills for her work as an interior designer at Davey’s Furniture in Watertown. She currently resides at Cedar View Assisted Living Center.

Celebrating this milestone are her two sons, Russ and Gordon, as well as six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

According to a statement, Mill's long life could be credited to her love of her community:

Throughout her life, Virginia has enjoyed playing basketball (she is a member of the South Dakota High School Girls Basketball Hall of Fame), reading, and playing bridge and other card games. She has been a member of First Methodist Church for over 75 years. Her favorite foods include pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy and desserts, of course. Staff at Cedar View say Virginia is witty and a sweetheart.

The Century Club was created by the South Dakota Health Care Association, providing a free certificate and membership to anyone 100 and older in South Dakota.  In the last 20 years, 1,500 have been inducted into the organization.

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