Dorothy was born in Red Oak, Iowa and grew up in both Red Oak and Des Moines.[1] She was the daughter of Horace E. Deemer, who was a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court.[2] She met several political figures in childhood due to the connections of her father, with whom she had a good relationship.[1] She studied at Wellesley College, graduating in 1912.[1]
In 1921, she became the first woman on the Iowa State Conservation Board.[3] In 1934, she served as the temporary secretary for the Iowa Republican Party.[4] She became president of the Iowa Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1935.[5] The following year, she was appointed to the State Board of Education and served on the Board of Curators for the State Historical Society of Iowa.[1]
Houghton was elected president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) in 1950, and served as president until 1952.[5][6] She supported for the United Nations while president of the GFWC.[6] She also supported Dwight Eisenhower's presidential candidacy and campaigned across several states.[7] Following Eisenhower's election to President, she was appointed assistant director for the Mutual Security of Refugees and Migrants, acting as a goodwill ambassador.[8] She retired in 1956 and received the Nansen Medal that year in recognition of her work with refugees, presented by Eleanor Roosevelt.[9][1] She subsequently campaigned to re-elect Eisenhower and became vice president of the Electoral College.[1]
She married Hiram Houghton and had four children, but felt a lack of "intellectual stimulation" from being a housewife.[1] After her political career, Houghton retired to Red Oak and continued to serve on various committees.[1] She moved to Iowa City in 1957 after her husband's death, where she published her memoirs, Reflections.[1] She died in 1972 aged 82 and was buried in Red Oak.[1]
