Vida Sherwin

She is the teacher of English and French in the school at Gopher Prairie. She is a daughter of a minister and has deep faith in Jesus-the Son of God. She considers him to be the eternal lover and offers her adoration to him. She is small, active and sallow. But her lively, bright, blue eyes give her a presence. Since she has read many books Carol considers her to be a close friend.

Since Kennicott had shown interest in her once she feels an affinity with him. She failed to reciprocate Kennicott's interest because of her rigidity. But she feels disappointed when Kennicott marries Carol. She develops a love-hate relationship with Carol. Though she manages to keep her feelings under control, she rages against Carol's ideas in the privacy of her room. For some time she imagines Carol to be the daughter of Kennicott and herself. Later on she identifies herself with Kennicott and feels impatient of Carol's childish behavior. After her marriage to Raymie she sometimes feels jealous of Carol.

Vida is a reformer and is more effective than Carol. But she lacks Carol's imagination and impulsiveness. She has the persistence to be after what she wants to be accomplished. She is successful in establishing a rest room for the wives of the farmers who come to the town to sell their wheat with the help of the Thanatopsis club. She influences the club members to write papers on the writers, poets and novelists of English. She gets the members to conduct a fly swatting campaign in the summer, and cover the pump house with vine. She is successful in getting a new school building.

Vida marries Raymond Wutherspoon, the manager of the shoe section of the Bon Ton stores. She used to admire Raymie's voice even before she got married to him. After her marriage, she boosts Raymie's confidence so much that Haydock makes him a partner in his business and also elevates him to the post of the manager of the entire store.

Raymie works as the manager of the shoe department in the Bon Ton stores. He fancies himself to be a good singer. He admires Carol. When the dramatic club is formed, he proves that he can act well. Carol feels that he is the only person with talent. But he lacks self-confidence. Vida encourages him to look people in the eye and tell them what he thinks of them. But he is too meek to even understand that Vida is in love with him. Only when he is on the verge of losing her, does he realize his love and marries her. His service in the army boosts his self-confidence and after his return, he becomes the manager of the Bon Ton stores.

Bea Sorenson

Bea Sorenson is the Swedish maid of Carol. She adores her mistress. Carol finds that Bea's admiration is not slavish but is like the admiration, a fresher has for her senior. Bea is so fascinated by Gopher Prairie that she is ready to work for even two dollars a week. She loves Carol and Carol considers her to be a close friend. Bea marries Bjornstam and begets the most handsome son. Unfortunately Bea and her son Olaf die of typhoid.

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