Violet Dimler

Henrietta Violet Northrop was born in Lu Verne, a small town in north central Iowa, on December 22, 1899. She was second of four girls born to John and Henrietta (Curran) Northrop. After graduating from Lu Verne High School, Violet obtained her teacher's certificate from the Iowa Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and for several years taught in a country schoolhouse near Lu Verne.

 In 1921, she married Arthur Wilbur Christopher Dimler, also a native of Lu Verne, Iowa. Arthur and Violet became parents to three daughters (Shirley, Kathryn and Vera - a daughter Donna died shortly after birth). During Violet's adult life, she worked in and outside the home to help support her family.

Besides work, Violet was active in her church, local community events and the Lu Verne Legion Auxiliary chapter. Her avocations included traveling, playing cards (she especially liked bridge and cribbage), fishing, sewing and tatting. Violet died of cancer in January of 1977 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 My maternal grandmother exemplified the spirit of Carrie Chapman Catt in many ways. By her examples she instilled high educational standards moral values self dependence and hard work in her children grandchildren and great grandchildren. It is for these reasons I would like to honor her life. Being the eldest grandchild I was given the honor of bestowing the name 'Mimi' to my grandmother when I was a toddler. Henceforth "Mimi" was the name used by all of her family.

 I have very fond childhood memories of visiting my grandparents. I can still remember "Mimi" coaxing me to take a nap with a promise of telling me stories of her childhood. I was in awe of her accounts of harvesting time when the women would work in the kitchens all day in order to prepare feasts for the farmers that toiled in the fields. Back in the old days this work was a cooperative effort and 'Mimi' had a deep appreciation of this way of life. The stories of hard work were invariably tempered by stories of riding her horse or playing games with her sisters.

 Education at all levels was very important to my grandmother. Her own grandmother Jerusha Curran was one of the first pioneer school teachers in Iowa. 'Mimi's' early years as a country school teacher gave her the ability to make learning not only fun but meaningful. For instance she would teach me the capitals of the states and the names of the counties until I had them memorized. She taught me to play cribbage to help enhance my math skills (and when my daughters were old enough to learn she taught them also). "Mimi" was extremely proud of her ties to Iowa State College later University. Although she never attended Iowa State she had three sons-in-law two grandchildren and two great grandchildren that attended Iowa State. She especially loved the Veishea celebration each year and would never miss the Veishea parade.

My grandmother had many admirable personal qualities. She worked very hard all of her life to help support her family. By today's standards that may not be unusual but working outside the home was not the "norm" when she was raising her family in the 1920's. She supplemented the family's income by working at various jobs such as house cleaning, telephone operator, restaurant worker and store clerk. Also she worked as a rural mail carrier and postal clerk during the 1950's 60's and 70's. She always was 'busy' - even during her retirement years. Her years of work did not make her rich by any means but she was generous with what she had.

 I appreciate the legacy of my grandmother and am proud to have her name appear as a tribute in the Plaza of Heroines. Lovingly remembered Diane (Neville) Childs

11/15/94