Obituary of Dixie Lee Lello

Longtime St. Paul resident Dixie Lee Larson Lello has died at the age of 82. A celebration of life will be held (date to be announced) at Southview Senior Living in West St. Paul, whereupon she will be buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Dixie was born on July 30, 1941 in Cook County, Chicago, the only daughter of Helen Isaacson Larson and Helge (Mike) Larson. As a young child she and her mother moved to Minnesota to be near Finnish grandparents Hilda and Oscar Isaacson who lived on a farm in Beaver Township in Aikin County. Dixie loved time spent out-of-doors, and interaction with aunts, uncles and cousins. In high school she worked at Harts Old Tyme Café in Moose Lake, a popular restaurant on the shores of Moose Lake. In 1959 she graduated from Moose Lake High School.

Dixie attended the Minnesota School of Business, and afterwards worked for George T Ryan Construction and the Childrens Home Society. California, however, had always been her dream, so she decided to move there. It was in California that she met John Lello; the two were married August 10, 1962 in St. Paul. And it was St. Paul that became a permanent home.

From November, 1979 to April, 2007 Dixie worked as a clerk-typist for the City of St. Paul in the Department of Public Works. She had lost her husband John in 2003.

In 2018 Dixie moved from Kellogg Square in downtown St. Paul to Southview Senior Living in West St. Paul. There she found many new friends, and opportunity to participate in a number of outings

and activities. For a time she was a member of Toastmasters.

Dixie was a people pleaser. A cheerful person with an infectious smile! She liked to draw. She liked to read. She enjoyed time spent with others. Dixie cared specially for animals, and she gave generously to animal-related causes.

Dixie is survived by nine cousins: Joanne, Darlene, Scott, Sharon, Denise, Savel, Karla, Kent and special friend Janis Saarela. She is preceded in death by her mother Helen Larson, husband John Lello, three cousins (Russell, John and Mark), those beloved aunts and uncles (Henry, Walter, John, Edward and Esther). And special friends Gil from Kellogg Square and Ray from West St. Paul.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 25 at 11 a.m. in the community room of Southview Senior Living, 1984 Oakdale Avenue, West St. Paul.