Cathy Spandel , 48 , who has worked as a decorator at Dairy Queens in the Minnesota towns of Lakeville and Apple Valley for 20 years , bested more than 410 fellow decorators with her design , which featured depictions of the Alamo , hibiscus flowers , chili peppers , a sombrero , maracas , a sunset , a cowboy boot and a spur to represent the Spurs basketball team , the St. Paul ( Minn . )