Dick, Viola Wiens (1919-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Apr 6 p. 13

Birth date: 1919 Feb 28

text of obituary:

VIOLA DICK

Viola Dick, 90, of Mountain Lake, Minn., died March 16, 2009. She was born Feb. 28, 1919, to Jacob H. and Hulda (Flaming) Wiens near Dalmeny, Sask.

The family roots were in Minnesota, but her father had moved the family to Canada so he would not be drafted into the army in World War I. She was 10 years old when the family moved back to Minnesota. At age 14 she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and a year later was baptized and became a member of Carson Mennonite Brethren Church.

She graduated from Windom High School in 1937. A young man named Anton Dick and she both sang in the Carson church choir, and their relationship flourished. They were married on July 12, 1938.

They moved to Delft, where he operated a blacksmith shop. In 1942 they moved to his home farm to begin farming as their primary vocation. Throughout their farming years she was a faithful partner and encouragement to her husband. In 1943 the farm was diversified into a turkey enterprise, which they managed for a number of years. Later they purchased and moved to her home farm, which they operated until retirement. Here they initiated a turkey laying hen business.

After retirement, they spent 10 winters in McAllen, Texas. They also spent time in Italy and Japan, assisting with construction projects for her cousins who were missionaries. She loved to quilt and was active in Women’s Mission Society. She served as junior Sunday school superintendent, taught children’s Sunday school classes, served as Christian Endeavor leader and sang in the ladies chorus. She was a faithful member of the Carson congregation until it closed in 2005. Then she joined Mountain Lake Community Bible Church.

She loved gardening and was known for her generous hospitality.

Survivors include three sons, Mervin Dick and his wife, Jane, of Frederick, Colo., Ronald Dick and his wife, Sandra, of Virginia, Minn., and James Dick and his wife, Diane, of Mountain Lake; a daughter, Loretta Larson and her husband, Bernard, of St. Paul; a sister, Martha Funk of Lakewood, Colo.; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Anton, by only 21 days; by a sister, Rosella Jost; a brother, Albert Wiens; and a grandson, Perry Dick.