Dinsdale, M. Ionia (1914-2007)

DINSDALE, NICHOLSON, MCDANIEL, MAYES, SMITH, JOHNSON, RIDOUT

Posted By: Colleen Ossman (email)
Date: 6/13/2008 at 07:48:47

(Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA, Dec 11, 2007)

M. Ionia Dinsdale, 93, of Webster City, died Saturday, December 8, 2007 at the Southfield Wellness Community in Webster City. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center, Webster City with Rev. Mike Willer officiating. Burial will be in the Blairsburg Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

M. Ionia Nicholson, daughter of Willis and Bernice McDaniel Nicholson was born on February 16, 1914 in Blairsburg Township in Hamilton County, Iowa. She received her education in rural schools and earned her GED in her 50’s. On November 25, 1936, she married Howard L. (Pete) Dinsdale at the Nicholson family home in Blairsburg. The couple farmed in the Blairsburg Township. Mr. Dinsdale died November 18, 1983. Ionia continued farming the family farm even after she moved to Webster City in 1985. She had been residing at Southfield Wellness Community since January of 2007.

Mrs. Dinsdale is survived by her daughter, Nell Dinsdale Mayes of Ames; son, Jerry Dinsdale of Fullerton, CA.; seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; sister, Lila M. Smith of Belmond; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Nicholson of Tucson, AZ., Ruth Johnson of Kamrar and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Howard (Pete), she was preceded in death by her daughter, Terry A. Ridout; son, Richard (Dick) Dinsdale, brothers, Lionel, Wendell, Jack, Richard and Glen Nicholson and her parents.

Mrs. Dinsdale attended Faith United Methodist Church in Webster City.

Recently Mrs. Dinsdale received a dedication of a play which was written by Jane Curtis. Jane stated, “As a child growing up on a farm, my earliest hero was a woman. Ionia Dinsdale raised four children and worked alongside the men when necessary, but the most valuable memory I have of her is as a volunteer in our informal farm community, which was called Mulberry Center. Her spirit of giving was gracious and contagious, and therefore Ionia unwittingly set the tone for my life…”

Hamilton Obituaries maintained by Lynn McCleary.
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