Dates

• Existence: 1916 - 1991

Biography

Violet Greiner was born to the family of a Congregational minister in Olin, Iowa, in 1916. The family moved to Florida and New York state during her school years, but after her graduation settled in Blairsburg, Iowa, where she worked as a bookkeeper at the Cooperative Elevator. She attended Grinnell College for one year and then transferred to Iowa State College, now Iowa State University in Ames. After an additional year of study, she taught rural school before marrying Lyman Greiner, a 1928 graduate of Iowa State College. For the next fourteen years, the Greiners lived in various Iowa towns where Lyman Greiner worked for cooperative oil companies.

In 1942, the Greiners began farming the Greiner family farm south of Blairsburg. They had a large dairy herd and also raised hogs and chickens. With only one small tractor, most of the fieldwork was still performed with horses, while wind and gas-powered generators supplied the electricity. They raised three sons: Charles, Thomas, and Lyle, the last two born on the farm. Violet Greiner was an active community volunteer and a member of the United Church of Christ and the Rebekah Lodge of the International Order of Odd Fellows.

Violet Greiner also began a long career as a free-lance author, writing a monthly column called "Kitchen Komments" for the Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative News from 1960 to the 1980s. In addition, she had articles published in Wallace's Farmer, the Des Moines Sunday Picture Magazine, and numerous other publications. In 1970, she was the principal author of a town history, A Century at the Crossroads, Blairsburg, Iowa, 1869-1970.

In 1963, the Greiners spent two months in India as "exchange farmers." After their trip, Lyman and Violet Greiner gave numerous talks in Iowa about the people, customs, and culture of India. She continued her public speaking career, eventually presenting over eighty "Apron Talks" to various organizations, blending spiritual themes with a down-to-earth philosophy. In 1972, she became a Master Farm Homemaker and was active with that organization.

Lyman and Violet Greiner retired to Story City after living forty-four years on their Blairsburg farm. Violet Greiner died in 1991.

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