Heart of Gold in DeBorgia

DEBORGIA – The parking lot of the O’Aces bar and restaurant was at capacity Saturday, Sept. 20 as people from as far away as Couer d’Alene made the trip to celebrate co-owner Robin Jennings and to support her fight against cancer.

The benefit event was attended by hundreds of people who came to participate in the event which included a spaghetti dinner, raffle, auction, trivia and casino games. Jennings and her husband P.J., who met while they both lived in Coeur d’Alene, eventually relocated to the west end of Mineral County and purchased what is now the O’Aces in DeBorgia in 2006.

Jennings was recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in August and has been undergoing treatment ever since. While she was not able to attend, several hundred of her friends and family were in attendance including her daughter and sister. Jennings’ daughter, Marie Nail, said the amount of people in attendance was a testament to how many people her mother had had an impact on over the years.

“This is an outpouring of support to raise money for her medical expenses,” Nail said. “Everyone is being so generous and just chipping in what they can. She is a very special person.”

Jennings’ sister, Cora Lynn Montague, said her sister is the type of person other people naturally gravitate toward. Because of her warm nature and kindness to others, Lynn said people are drawn to her sister.

“My sister is always helping other people,” Montague said. “She’s always the first one to step up and help out. She’s big-hearted. She was always making birthday cakes for people around here, not because she had to, but because she wanted to. That’s just her personality. She just gives and gives and gives.”

Montague said, when her sister and her husband moved to DeBorgia, the phenomenon that often happens when people move away and lose touch, didn’t happen to Jennings. She said people from her old home in Idaho were constantly coming over to visit their friends at the O’Aces.

“People come over for Fourth of July or ATV runs or just to see them,” Montague said. “Many of their friends have cabins around here and some of them bought those places because she and P.J. were here. Everybody knows them and has become friends with them.”

Montague and Nail both said Jennings was maintaining a positive outlook despite the nature of her condition. They said she is still waiting to find out about further treatment with chemotherapy.

“She has the best attitude of anyone I’ve ever seen,” Montague said. “She’s so upbeat. She knows she’s going to defy what they are telling her and I believe it too. If anyone else had a problem like this, she’d be the first one to help. She really does have a heart of gold and that’s why everyone is here.”

Donations to benefit Jennings’ continuing treatment can be made at Mullan Trail Bank locations or sent to the St. Regis Branch at 651 Montana Hwy 135.