BOUNTIFUL -- When some of Lillian Schoeler's daughters visited with her in June, they challenged her to play in the Golden Years Jazz Band one more time. What is unusual about Schoeler, who retired from the band in December 2004, is that she had just celebrated her 98th birthday. Schoeler took up her daughters' challenge and played her "little drum" one more time to the delight of those attending. She has played the drums for more than 30 years, even after she became blind. Not bad for someone with no formal training and whose musical career started on a washboard with a "kitchen band" after all her children were grown and gone.

Graduating from the kitchen band to the Golden Years Jazz Band (a name she came up with), Schoeler has enjoyed playing her little drum over the years.

"It's been fun," said Schoe-ler. "I've enjoyed it. The kitchen band started 50 years ago and I seem to have an inner rhythm. I've always loved to dance more than anything and love playing the drums."

What is the key to Schoe-ler's longevity? She's had what she calls "so many cockeyed accidents" including rolled cars and falling off horses. But, she says, "The human body is a miraculous creation." And she's not ready to give up yet.

"I came into the world thinking it wasn't nice that people died," said Schoeler.

Growing up in the small community of Courtney, North Dakota, she experienced the passing of several people close to her at a young age. Her father died when he was 35 from cancer. That left her mom, older sister, and three younger brothers to run the farm.

Schoeler and her husband later farmed in Canada until the LDS missionaries found them. She has called Bounti-ful home for the last 50 years.

Now at "war with the 'ritis brothers," she enjoys sitting on the couch with her feet up and mentions that her knees bother her. "A grand brand of nuisance," she says.

She also recently developed diabetes and became so ill her family thought they were going to lose her. The doctor set her up on hospice care, but later decided she was going to be around a while longer.

"I've always been healthy," said Schoeler.

Her daughter, Lynn, closed her dog-grooming business in Centerville, the Foxy Dog, at Christmas-time and moved in with her mother.

"She's delightful to be around," said Lynn. "She's so gracious and sweet."

Schoeler is not one to give up. She takes on the challenges of life and meets them -- even the small challenge of playing the drums one more time piques her interest and keeps her going.