Dorothy Mae Hinderaker

In Loving Memory 1927 - 2005

Dorothy Mae Hinderaker, eldest daughter of Amos and Minnie Hinderaker, was born April 25, 1927 on her parents' farm northwest of Radcliffe. She was educated in rural schools northwest of Radcliffe. At age 13, she became the pianist for Bethany Lutheran Church for $20 a year.

Because of the war years, she was issued an emergency teaching certificate at age 17 after completing Normal Training, a two-year course in high school, and taking state tests.

She attended summer college at Northern Iowa University before teaching in a rural school with 13 children and seven grades. She completed her education at Northern Iowa and taught first grade for two years in Eldora before finishing her degree at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in music from St. Olaf College, she taught music in schools in Des Moines, where she took advanced music training at Drake University. In 1952, Dorothy began teaching at Lafayette Elementary School in West Seattle, Washington, where she taught for 30 years. Most of those 30 years she taught fourth grade; however, she also taught third grade, plus music, math and science classes to fifth and sixth graders. Her aspirations at the time she accepted the contract to teach third grade at Lafayette were to teach music, but found her work with a self-contained class so enjoyable that she continued in third and fourth grades.

Dorothy received her Master of Education at the University of Washington.

In 1982, she retired from her teaching career and enjoyed several hobbies. She planted a beautiful Rose Garden, which was visited by Sunset Magazine, and an article was printed in the Seattle Times.

During retirement, Dorothy occasionally volunteered to play the piano at Rainier Square, in downtown Seattle. She also enjoyed playing bridge at the Renton Center.

In May, 1992, Dorothy returned to Iowa to be near her family as her health was a determining factor. She suffered a severe stroke, August, 1992. She has been a resident at Bethany Manor in Story City. She passed away there on Tuesday, December 13, 2005.

South Hardin Signal - Review -- December 21, 2005

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