March 15, 1916 – October 8, 2007
Eleanor (Linderman) Dikeman was born two miles south of the Logan and Lincoln county line in a sod house on March 15, 1916 to Fred and Ethel Linderman. She graduated from Stapleton Baker Rural High School in 1934. Eleanor had eight sisters, Lela (Oral) Wade, Cleora (Elvin) Saul, Leota (Wayne) Campbell, Maxine (Lloyd) Lovitt, Eula (Jerry) Boeser, Jean (Don) Spaulding, Joyce (Irvin) Fletcher and Winnie (Ed) Janecek; and one brother Jake Linderman.
After graduation, Eleanor taught one year at the Barrett Country School. She also taught two years at the Birdwood Country School in Lincoln County and worked for Star Green. Eleanor married Melvin Dikeman on November 3, 1937. Eleanor worked side by side with Melvin in his ranching and traveled with him to all the rodeos. They were a team in everything they did.
Eleanor participated in the barrel racing event at rodeos in the early 1950’s, including Madison Square Garden in New York City and St. Paul, Minnesota. During the 1940’s and 50’s, Melvin and Eleanor traveled the United States to PRCA rodeos where he participated in steer wrestling.
At the same time, they maintained a ranch on the Birdwood Creek northwest of Hershey, where they raised cattle and hay. They lived on their Birdwood Creek ranch most of their lives. They also owned ranches in Lincoln, McPherson, Thomas and Hooker counties.