Margaret Alice Scott Dillon

Edina, MN

Margaret Alice Scott Dillon, age 92, of Edina, MN, passed away at 11:45 p.m. June 20, 2025, surrounded by her three daughters and two sons-in-law.

No visitation will be held, as requested by Margaret. A private graveside

service for family will be held. Burial will be at the Monticello Township Cemetery, N. State Street, Monticello, IL.

Margaret Alice was born at her grandmother’s home in Bement, IL on February 23, 1933. She was the eldest child of Dwight Warren and Ida Laurine Sanders Scott; she married Roy Dean Dillon on September 12, 1953. She is survived by her three daughters: Deanna Beth (Melvin) Thursby of Cedar Rapids, IA; Deborah Renee Dillon-O’Brien of Edina, MN, and Laurie Ruth (Mark) Guy of Plymouth, MN; six beloved grandchildren: Katherine Suzanne (Jason) Ortega of San Francisco, CA; Rachel Dawn (Adam) Johnson of Iowa Falls, IA; Michael Christopher (Sarah) Thursby of Mankato, MN; Evan Dean Guy of Plymouth, MN; Alex Nathanial Guy of Minneapolis, MN; and Erin Margaret O’Brien of Coon Rapids, MN; seven great-grandchildren (Noah, Carter, Anna, Dillon, Caleb, Aiden, Tripp) and several nieces and nephews.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one brother (Robert), and one sister, (Carol). Two brothers survive: Larry Scott (Marilyn) of Deland, FL and Bill Scott (Diana) of Rockford, IL.

During Margaret’s early years her parents farmed in central Illinois. This meant that she knew and loved the growing seasons associated with plants and crops, and the seasons of life associated with farm animals. She also learned the meaning of hard work and self-discipline from a young age, helping with farm tasks and caring for her four younger siblings. After attending a one-room school through sixth grade, she finished her seventh and eighth grades at Lincoln Grade School in Monticello. She graduated from Monticello High School where she was a talented and conscientious student. In point of fact, she was awarded a Monticello Business and Professional Women’s Club Scholarship. As a young woman she played the piano and participated in 4-H, becoming an accomplished seamstress (a skill she sought to pass on to her three daughters), and an excellent cook.

After high school she attended nursing school at the Mennonite School of Nursing in Bloomington IL, graduating as a registered nurse in 1963. After graduation she worked at Kirby Hospital in Monticello, Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, OH, and Provena Hospital in Champaign-Urbana, IL.

Margaret Alice Scott married Roy Dean Dillon on September 12, 1953—the same day as her parent’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. In 2013 she and Dean celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. During the early years of their marriage, Margaret and Dean lived in several small town and cities in Illinois, the last of which was Champaign-Urbana where she helped support Dean as he finished his masters and doctoral degrees in Vocational and Technical Education at the University of Illinois. The family then move to Morehead, KY where Dean assumed a department chair’s position at Morehead State University. Two and a half years later the family moved to Lincoln, NE where Dean was a professor at the University of Nebraska; they lived there for thirty years. With her husband, Margaret enjoyed working with university students and their wives, helping prepare them for teaching in small communities in out-state Nebraska. She was recognized for her work by the Beta Chapter of Alpha Tau Alpha. She also served as past president of W.S.C.S in Manito, IL, and as a Sunday school teacher at Christ United Methodist Church in Lincoln, NE. In addition, she was a member of Chapter EE, PEO, also in Lincoln.

Along with her husband, she dedicated herself to rearing her three daughters, living her life according to strong moral and religious values. She encouraged the value of education and the love and discipline required of musical training. She spent many hours driving her three girls to music lessons, attending recitals, participating in 4-H meetings, and ensuring her daughters made it to their shifts as waitresses at the Nebraska Center Restaurant. She also sewed new clothes for her family, finding pleasure in surprising her girls with something beautiful and specially designed for each one of them for Christmas or a birthday.

Margaret was an avid gardener both in Lincoln, NE and later when she moved back to Monticello, IL to care for her mother. She attributed her love and knowledge about gardening to her parents. Her gardens were so beautifully designed and cared for that they were featured as part of garden tours in Lincoln, NE in 1994, and in Monticello, IL in 1997, 2001,2005, and 2010. She and Dean gardened together and their creations were feature in the Champaign, IL News Gazette at Home in the Central IL Magazine in April, May and June of 2013.

When Dean and Margaret moved back to Monticello, IL she joined the Monticello Methodist Church in 1995 and became a member of the Tri-M Sunday school class. She was also a member of the Kirby Hospital Auxiliary, where she participated in blood pressure evaluations on a volunteer basis. Over the years she enjoyed vacationing with her children and families, renting cabins on small lakes in Michigan and later Minnesota where she helped prepare meals and watched everyone else as they swam, fished, and played in the water (activities she didn’t enjoy!).

Margaret moved with her husband to Edina, MN in September 2017. The move allowed her to be near one of her daughters and to take advantage of the excellent medical facilities in the Twin Cities area. She lived at Aurora on France, a senior living facility, and in her early years there she enjoyed volunteering in the memory care unit at the facility.

It should be noted that Margaret was a kind and caring wife, friend, and mother. She gave her love and time freely over the years to her family. Yes, she was strict and expected much from her children. Yet all of her actions were carried out with patience and love. She was proud of her three daughters and their accomplishments. She saw each of them as unique individuals who she supported during their most challenging times, and celebrated during their moments of achievement. She was most proud that they loved and supported one another over the years—a testament to her values and the model she set for them.

As God gave Margaret Alice life, God called her to his eternal home.

In lieu of flowers, Margaret’s daughters request that you consider donating to one of the following entities because of the outstanding care and expertise of the individuals who supported Margaret during her health journey:

-Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute Center for Valve and Structural Heart Disease, c/o Dr. Paul Sorajja, 800 E. 28th Street-MR 16538, Minneapolis, MN 55407-3799; or

-N.C. Little Memorial Hospice, 7019 Lynmar Lane, Edina, MN 55435.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com.