Marian P. Dickinson

Marian P. Dickinson, 86, of 302 2nd St. NE, died Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at the Good Shepherd Health Center. Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Friday at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia Avenue with Rev. Jim Stiles and Rev. Jo Frahm-Watkins officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue and continue one hour before services Friday at the church. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church or donor?s choice. Marian was born October 26, 1918 in Leola, South Dakota the daughter of J.C. and Lillian (Orr) Dickinson. The family moved to Mason City where Marian graduated from Mason City High School in 1937. She graduated from Mason City Junior College in 1939 then attended and graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. Marian taught school in Williams, Iowa from 1942 to 1944. She returned to Mason City where she began teaching home economics at Mason City High School in 1944. She became chair of the home economics department in the early 1970?s. In 1961, Marion was named ?Iowa Teacher of the Year?. In 1966, she received her MA degree from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. Throughout her teaching career, Marian was active in several teaching organizations including the Iowa State Education Association, Mason City Education Association, American Home Economics Association and the Iowa Home Economics Association. Her educational goal was to understand family living and child development in various parts of the world. Over her lifetime, she traveled extensively in Europe and Mexico. Marian was dedicated to education. She retired from teaching in 1993. She was also a member of the First United Methodist Church, Delta Kappa Gamma, White Shrine and Eastern Star. Marian is survived by 2 uncles, Gay Orr of Spirit Lake, Orville Orr of California; cousins, Dr. John Thompson of Iowa City, Dr. Barton Thompson of Iowa City, Shelly Thompson of Des Moines, Merle Dickinson of Waterloo, Larry Orr of Waterloo; cousin-in-law, Winifred Dickinson of Mason City; several other cousins and family members. Marian was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation:
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on October 13, 2005 (map/driving directions) 3:00 PM to 3:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on October 12, 2005 (map/driving directions)

Service:
2:00 PM at on October 14, 2005 (map/driving directions)