(Editor’s Note: The following story is a newspaper reprint brought in by friends and family members.)

Mildred Nelson has always loved to travel and she states she thinks she has been in every state in America.

She has also always had the passion to fly.

She pursued her passion after retiring from the post office, and at the age of 65 she decided to take flying lessons. She took her lessons from a neighbor up by Rugby but she states, “I ran out of money so didn’t learn much.”

When most people her age are requesting a companion to assist them from plane to plane, she flew her own! At the age of 97, Mildred had the opportunity to fly her own plane. It was her granddaughter’s husband’s plane and they flew into Enderlin to visit her. Mildred was only asked once if she wanted to fly and off she went! When she took over the controls it was, “Close to heaven” in more ways than one!

Who says you are too old to fly? Not Mildred Nelson that is for sure!

– Enderlin Independent