Dates

• Existence: 1910 - 1998

Biographical Note

Minnie M. Boyd (née Dressler) was born August 14, 1910 in Four Lakes, Washington to Andrew and Minnie Kersteter Dressler. The family relocated to Pullman, Washington where she graduated from high school in 1928. After high school she attended Washington State College (now Washington State University) and in 1929 she wed Carl Boyd.

Boyd and her husband were farmers near Pullman. She began to fly in 1946 and was an avid pilot of small, single-engine planes. She was a charter member of the Washington Flying Farmers and a member of the Spokane Chapter of the International Organization of Women Pilots, better known as "The Ninety-Nines" (99's). The Ninety-Nines "promote advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while honoring our unique history and sharing our passion for flight."

As a "99", she participated in three All-Woman Transcontinental Air Races (1955, 1960, and 1961), better known as the "Powder Puff Derby." Boyd also served the Ninety-Nines in various roles, from committee service to being the Northwest Section Governor (1959-1960). Additionally, she was active in Flying Farmers, now known as International Flying Farmers, an organization focused on promotion and use of airplanes in agriculture.

Boyd died of natural causes on August 10, 1998.

Source:

Biography derived from collection materials and History of the 99s.

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