(SIOUX CITY, IA) Readers still open their hometown newspapers for a piece of wisdom from the "Dear Abby" and "Ann Landers" advice columns. But now, both women behind those words are gone. We take a look back on the lives of twin sisters who shared parallel lives and careers and it all started right here in Sioux City.
"Abby was more like a mother, Ann was more like a business woman, so you could see that. Abby would be the one who would put her arm around you, Ann would be the one who would try to analyze you," says Bruce Miller, Sioux City Journal.
The twins were born on July 4, 1918, and raised in Sioux City. They graduated Central High School and went to Morningside College until they both got married and eventually moved away. They each started an advice column and shared their insight with the country.
"They were actually women's libbers before we even thought of that, they were making a place for women in the business, especially in journalism," says Miller.
"They had this great base of education in Iowa, and the down home ethics and morals of the Midwest, and I think that's what put them to the top," says Grace Linden, Sioux City Public Museum.
Through the years, the pair came back for class reunions, stayed in touch with family and friends and they always let their hometown newspaper know how they were doing.
"I always got calls from Abby, she would call me up and say, how are things doing in Sioux City, and she'd ask, how's the Green Gables, she'd ask about these things, and she'd always say at the end, make sure you tell everybody hi for me," says Miller.
Pauline Phillips - known as "Dear Abby" to readers - died Wednesday in Minneapolis. Her twin sister Eppie Lederer - who wrote the "Ann Landers" column - died in 2002 at the age of 83.
