Violet Dobitz, 93, Dickinson, formerly of New England, died peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at St. Luke’s Home, Dickinson. Violet’s Mass of Christian Burial will be 1 p.m., Saturday, September 21, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, New England with Fr. Dennis Schafer as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m. with Deacon Leonard Krebs presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass at the church.
Violet Krebs, the 8th in a family of 12 children, was born to Anton and Rosie (Schmidt) Krebs on a farm southeast of New England. Along with her siblings she attended country school in Hettinger County. In the fall of 1944, Violet and her 4 younger siblings began school at St. Mary’s Catholic School in New England, where she first met School Sisters of Notre Dame. She enjoyed the friendship of many SSNDs throughout her lifetime. In the spring of 1948, Violet graduated from St. Mary’s High School. After graduation she helped on the family farm.
Violet met her future husband, Fred Dobitz, in 1945, while he played ball with the Krebs baseball team. They were engaged following Fred’s honorable discharge from the U.S. Army. The wedding was at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New England, October 18, 1949. After their marriage, Fred worked as a lineman for Slope Electric and as a hired man for area farmers as Violet cared for the first 4 children and the house. In 1955, they were able to purchase a farm of their own near New England, and then they dairy farmed for 37 years.
Both Fred and Violet were devoted to Church and school activities at St. Mary’s. Violet belonged to the Altar Guild and church choir, and she was a volunteer for many projects. In 2017 she was recognized for 20 years of service as a sacristan at St. Mary’s Church. Like her mother, Rosie, she prayed the rosary and attended daily Mass and communion.
Her interest in genealogy was sparked by her Uncle Matt Krebs. She did a lot of research to support the Krebs History she authored and it was published in 1989. This book involved the lives of her 16 uncles and aunts, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Violet and Fred joined Adam (Violet’s brother) and Charlotte (Fred’s sister) on a trip to Europe in 1990. Violet often called it ‘a trip planned in heaven’. They visited several relatives and were able to find the churches of their grandparents in Austria-Hungary, now Romania. They also visited School Sisters of Notre Dame in Germany.
Besides sewing new clothes, the sewing machine Fred bought for her during their first years of marriage, was used to do patching and mending over the years. Hundreds of quilts and stuffed toys were also created and shared with her children, grandchildren, and many friends and worthy causes.
After many years of being part of the New England community, Violet moved to Dickinson. There she made new friends at Subiaco, then Evergreen and finally at St. Luke’s.
Violet is survived by her children: Sr. Annette Dobitz, SSND, Dickinson; Ken (Dee) Dobitz, Bowman; Diane Dobitz, Mankato, MN; Roger Dobitz, Sioux City, IA; Gordon (Cynthia) Dobitz, Dickinson; Carol Allery (Kirk Lindell), New Richmond, WI; Darlene (Craig) Highet, Osakis, MN; Paul Dobitz (Nelson), Chicago, IL; Teresa Davis (Dave Schaaf), Delta, CO; Lou (Jenny) Dobitz, Killdeer; Peter (Joyce) Dobitz, Dickinson; Cill (Lee) Skabo, Dickinson, and Gail Dobitz, Dickinson; and daughter-in-law Louann Dobitz, Dickinson, 35 grandchildren and 56 great grandchildren; 3 sisters: Sr. Rosaleen Krebs, SSND, Mankato, MN; Sr. Rose Marie Krebs, SSND, and Sr. Rose Anthony Krebs, SSND, both of Shakopee, MN; sisters-in-law: Emerentiana Krebs, New England; Lydia Krebs, Dickinson; and Claudia Dobitz, Bakersfield, CA; a friend of Gerald, Mike Delorme.
Violet was preceded in death by her husband, Fred on April 25, 1998; her parents, Anton and Rosie; 2 sons: Duane and Gerald; son-in-law, Michael Davis, and grandson, Marcus; 2 sisters: Susan Schroeder and Elizabeth Grundhauser; 6 brothers: John, Nick, Joseph, Adam, Anton, and Elmer; 13 sisters-in-law and 11 brothers-in-law; and a friend of Diane, Jean Lovett.
