Mayor Shelly Carlson presents August’s MoorHeart Award to Diane and Troy DeLeon, owners of the historic Moorhead Dairy Queen.

Diane and Troy DeLeon purchased the Dairy Queen at Main and Eighth from founders Bob and Phyllis Litherland when they retired in 1995.

Troy and Diane DeLeon, who have owned the historic Moorhead Dairy Queen for the last 30 of its 75 years, received Moorhead’s top honor, the MoorHeart Award, at Monday’s city council meeting.
The public-spirited couple were nominated simultaneously by two city leaders, governmental affairs director Lisa Bode and Moorhead Police Lt. Scott Kostohryz.
Bode shared both nominating letters as she presented the DeLeons’ award. She recounted how the Moorhead landmark was founded Aug. 1, 1949, by Bob and Phyllis Litherland as one of the first stores in the Minnesota-based chain; upon retirement in 1995, they sold it to the couple. “Troy and Diane bring a vibrant and welcoming environment to the spring and summer seasons, providing exceptional service with a smile,” she wrote in her nomination. “They enthusiastically support and give back to their community through engaging promotions at Dairy Queen.”
Quoting from Kostohryz’s letter, she highlighted one specific instance of their community spirit. According to the police officer, the state’s Towards Zero Deaths traffic safety program worked with the national DQ organization to provide “I Got Caught” coupons to youngsters whom officers spotted wearing helmets while riding their bikes. When the national program was discontinued last year, he asked the DeLeons if they would continue it locally if private funds could be found.
Instead, he wrote, “they took full control of the idea. They not only agreed to it, but provided 2,000 coupons at no cost for Clay County agencies to continue this tradition. In addition, they coordinated with all Clay County Dairy Queen’s to ensure they would honor the coupons as well, also at no cost.”
Their act of kindness, he said, “ensures a beloved tradition stays here in Clay County, and that local law enforcement has a way to maintain positive reinforcement for safe youth bicyclists and continued positive interaction with our officers.”
As part of their celebration of the 75th anniversary of the local business, the DeLeons also just completed a month of fund-raising, the traditional collaboration with the Children’s Miracle Network. Finally figures are not in, but DeLeon told the council it appears they reached or exceeded their goal of raising $75,000 for Sanford Children’s Hospital.