Ed Lidell 100 Years

I’ve always been impressed by the solemn, magnificent simplicity of Ed Lidell.  Equally moving is the unrelenting, selfless devotion he has toward his family and their devotion to him.

Edwin Walter Lidell is a resident of Woodbury and is celebrating his 100th birthday, 22 April 2013. He is the quintessential American gentleman with ties to Wisconsin and Sweden.

“I had the great honor and privilege of meeting Ed last Christmas. Ed is a polite, intelligent, and humble man. And I was surprised to learn Ed would be having a birthday this April. And not just any birthday. I would like to extend a very big Happy Birthday to Ed on his 100th birthday! Woodbury is blessed to have Ed and his family as residents. I would also like to remind Ed he promised to invite me to his party.”  — Woodbury Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens

Be careful what you ask for — the mayor may just show up at your birthday party.

US Attorney General John Mitchell advised once, “Watch what we do, not what we say.” Her plate may be more than full, and in this age of casual conveniences, and time-consuming professions, duties and family-time, it is refreshing to see our Mayor help create an afternoon with the local community, that had the refinement of a former era when manners and tradition were second nature.  

Mayor Mary Stephens stopped by to greet our 100-year Ed without fuss, or pomp and circumstance; despite juggling other time-consuming duties that day, and presented him a Woodbury Pin and greeting with genuine warmth and affection.  Such modesty is rare in politics. 

As well as his family, a few of us have witnessed Ed’s devotion and wholehearted commitment to his wife Betty, while she lived, and, while she died two years ago.  They were wed for 70.5 years. You outlive a lot of precious people in 100 years, the sadness cuts, I imagine. But Ed reminded me the other day that his faith in God helps him the most through losses. Faith provides a welcome protection when you’ve lost the love of your life of over 70 years.

Ed and Betty Lidell hail from Superior, Wisconsin. She was from the town, he from the farm. In winter, Ed remembers well, transporting the saw to the woods, where timber was cut. In high-school, a courtship blossomed when a blob of cold cream landed on Ed’s face from Betty in the make-up room after an Operetta they both participated in. 

Ed left for Detroit on a motorcycle. After four years, he returned to Duluth and married Betty at the Pastor’s house. They had lived in Detroit, Chippewa Falls and Milwaukee. According to Ed, great things happened while they lived out of state.  They bore two children and there, their son and daughter found their spouses — Claudia (daddy’s girl) met her husband Jerry; and son Wynn met his wife Karyn while attending Purdue University.

In 1965 they moved shoulder to shoulder with excitement to the Twin Cities. Under his belt, Ed had the trade of a tool and die maker. He retired as a chief engineer from Viking Drill, in St. Paul. 

Friendship with Ed is comfortable and welcoming. You won’t forget an encounter with Ed Lidell — you immediately feel a part of his life and he is part of yours. No architect in the world can design that authentic feeling. 

The intensely personal effort he makes reflects the joy he derives from sharing his passion for giving. He breathes fresh life into any room he enters in the retirement home in Woodbury.

In his spare time Ed uses his hands to this day making geometric patterns with an interesting yarn on chairs for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, for children of friends and neighbors.He is skilled in the art of weaving Macramé. This is a form of textile-making, using knotting rather than weaving or knitting. Its primary knots are the square knot and forms of "hitching" — full hitch and double half hitches.

It was long crafted by sailors, especially in elaborate or ornamental knotting forms, to decorate anything from knife handles to bottles to parts of ships. Ed picked up this hobby while in Florida many years ago.

Life expectancy for the average American is 76.9 years. 

By the year 2050 there will be an estimated one million people living to 100 in the U.S. Scientists have spent hundreds of years describing life… Ed would be the first to say that a combination of genetics, lifestyle choices, mental astuteness and just plain good luck helped him keep in great shape for the majority of his life, and it has helped him shed off damage, as opposed to accumulating it.

Ed’s secret? Biking, walking, and keeping a positive attitude. Being 100 is no excuse for slacking off. 

“Yip! I was on the bike this morning and I’ve gotten outside for a walk over the winter time, whenever the weather wasn’t too bad,” he said couple of days ago. 

In a neat apartment of an independent living home in Woodbury, Ed bikes one mile in the mornings on a stationary bike. In addition he walks another mile in the afternoons. In inclement weather, he will walk indoors, throughout the facility to maintain strength and balance.  Ed does his own washing and ironing and cooks some of his own meals.

Ed’s mental acuity and lively sense of humor remain undimmed. But Ed Lidell never seeks glory or undue attention. His work ethic and mental curiosity is also a key ingredient in his longevity. It is not uncommon for Ed to walk out the front door and upon inquiry Where ye headin’?” He’ll inform us he’s off to work — helping his son Wynn with his business. I’d say, “Well, after all Ed, you are only 99 years old — so, get out there!!”

Singing has been a powerful vaccine too. Ed has sung, wrote poems and partook in the art of storytelling for many social events for the Woodbury community, church, the military, family and friends.  

I would describe Ed’s voice as having the right pitch, with the elastic strips of connective tissue and cartilage in his throat making the perfect sounds, which amplified within his mouth, nose and throat; elevate to a magnificent crooner’s howl. We sang his praises after sessions.

Since the death of his beloved Betty, I know that Ed is not as apt to sing. Maybe some of that beautiful music was just for her, and a bit left with her — understandably so. Music is instinctive in the genes, and the family’s Quartet brought many, rich harmonies to many. Everyone loves a good tune… In Ed’s household; the family of four were notorious, notable and practiced musicians. Ed sang Tenor, his wife Betty sang Alto, daughter Claudia sang Soprano and Wynn (Ed Jr.) sang Bass.

At Ed’s 100 birthday party on the 6th of April, Ed received two letters from the White House.

People came from all over the country to visit him, cousins came from Sweden to greet and sing, as well as Amy Lidell, a great niece who travelled from Indiana, and played many variation of Happy Birthday on the violin. Amy created textures and combinations with her sound that spoke to the emotions. Guests were in awe. The arrival of a new generation gives birth to the past and the panorama of Swedish memories was honored at this gathering, and all the tales of lives that preceded all.

Ed was presented with a picture of his father’s house in Sweden, their native flag was flown at Woodbury Senior Living, and songs were sung in English and Swedish.

Over the past 100 years Ed marvels at the technological miracles spread out over his time on earth; yet he recounts with equal pleasure the friends he has made over a lifetime and the sense of family and cohesiveness that is so endearing to his memory of Superior, Wis.

“A sound which makes us linger,” — Lord Byron

Betty returned to Superior, Wisconsin, as will Ed when he passes this great earth.  During a wonderful funeral service facilitated by Woodbury Trinity Presbyterian Church on Tower Drive, I couldn’t help but marvel at Betty’s eulogies; what it said about her, the person, and how eulogies also say a great deal about the person who gives it — Ed and Betty’s son Wynn and grandson-in-law, Greg.  

Gentle laughter, funny incidences were recalled to remember the good times.  Inspirational stories galore, and grief borne, but shared, was eased also by the clergy — Rev. Gary Hanson of Trinity, and Chaplain Owen Basil of Woodbury Senior Living. 

Ed continues to visit Trinity Presbyterian, and attends their very nice ‘senior luncheons’ once a month.  Ed’s escort is a jolly, treasure of a gentleman.  And, this past weekend Trinity had planned a birthday reception for Ed.

One would think the experiences of great loves, and the sickle of their losses would be an age accelerator, but Ed and centenarians in general seem to have a stress-reducing mindset that combines positive thinking with a fighting spirit. 

Ed has been able to move on with an infinite appetite for life (and boyish delight for the Minnesota Twins). To those of us who are trying to crack the code on happiness, money and longevity, Ed reminds me that it doesn’t matter what we do for a living but how much life we put into our doing.

It is easy to be normal, but is it fun? 

I have figured out that children and the elderly know how to have fun. They do not succumb to normalcy. Ed has many friends but he has three very special funny ones where he lives… Inez Oehlke, Helen Fiebing (Helen, Ed’s Cribbage partner) and Helen VanAllen (Helen, the Tornado). The ladies, two 95-year-olds and one 85-year-old, penned out the details of Ed’s story for this article.

Now, before leaving their apartments our Woodbury citizens had to make sure their hi-fi systems were in the ears and the Sherlock Holmes looking glass was handy to keep the small print into focus before the real business of writing begins. Ensuring that the oxygen tank is full (or, at least enough for a writing session), the coffee is hot and the Irish whiskey is at the ready; as they make their way to the Sun Room. There, the ladies hoped to slip into a mellow time warp with Ed, whom they promptly sat down as the investigation began with Louis Armstrong filling the air.

With the final stroke of the nib of the fountain pen done, Helen the Tornado informed the two 95-year-olds and the 100-year-old, to wrap up the jokes and call it a rap. With this social and literary late morning gig wrapped up, 85-year-old Helen, The Tornado dreamed of a brief reprieve with a 28-year-old gymnast to massage her swollen feet with cool lotion — but, alas, this story needed to be typed out and sent to Puerto Rico.

This crew of hard-working, heavy-duty venerable friends had a mission and no time for fleeting pipe dreams. So they banged it out on the one computer available to them. This morning was really only for those with stamina.

Whether a community-enhancing idea is born from need or celebration, it takes caring people to make it work. Regardless of age our capacity for enjoyment is unsurpassable.

Councilwoman Amy Scoggins: “I remember Ed vividly, and I can picture his beautiful voice. Although he is 100 years old, he is still a vibrant man. Most people might not realize how much life is in some of the older folks. They are just as alive as you and me! Their stories are fascinating and they deserve some recognition.” 

This local man armed with a repertoire of humble talents shares his love/ tenderness, sympathy and a life of balance, to all.  Ed is 100 years old and shows each and every one of us to have obedience in getting up, dressing up, and showing up — and never to diminish a day gifted to us.  When we do so, the day always serves up more than any of us can hope for.

Here’s to Ed; who’s brings smiles, friendship and love to all of us in his orbit, and we, in turn, live better and give more to others! All because of one and the power of… ONE hundred.