Lena Vanina was born in California in 1879. ;Her parents were Fulgenzio and Caterina Rivera Vanina. Her parents were both from Switzerland. The family moved to Central Oregon and ranched near Combs Flat for several years. Lena became acquainted with Arthur Dillard Lowrey. Dillard, as he was commonly known, was born in Harrison, Arkansas on May 24, 1872. He had come to Oregon with his parents Russell and Mary Denton Lowrey and they settled on the eastern end of Big Summit Prairie.

Lena and Dillard were married on March 24, 1899. Dillard broke horses for the Prineville Land and Livestock Company on Muddy Creek early in their marriage. Lena was occupied with domestic chores. Dillard later became a cattle foreman for the Muddy Ranch. In 1915 they filed a homestead claim on Little Muddy Creek and established their own ranch. Lena and Dillard had two children, Vada and Elvin.

They operated the ranch for several years and were well known in the region. Lena was always a gracious host to visitors. It was a relatively isolated region with scattered neighbors. Lena managed the children and domestic life on the ranch as well as helping with some of the ranch chores. Neighbors would occasionally gather to socialize.

Lena lived on the ranch until she passed away in 1936. Dillard continued to operate the ranch until he sold it to the Muddy Company in 1942. He passed away on Jan. 31, 1943 in Prineville. Both Lena and Dillard are buried in Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville.

Contributed by Steve Lent, Historian