Veda Bates

Veda M. Bates, 90 of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at Park Place Elder Living. Visitation will begin after 12 noon, on Friday, December 12, 2014, at Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. that evening. A funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, December 13, 2014, at Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel, with Pastor Roger Ricketts officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials have been established to Knights Templar Eye Foundation and Heifer Project International. On-line condolences may be directed to www.olsonpowell.com. Born September 22, 1924, near Brighton, IA, Veda Marie was the daughter of Herman Ferdinand and Velma Christina (Koch) Egli. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1942. On May 17, 1947, she married Robert Max "Bob" Bates at Green Mound Church. In her early years, Veda worked as a bookkeeper at Harney Implement in Mt. Pleasant. From 1966-1976, she and her husband owned and operated Bates Office Supply Store. She then began working for the State of Iowa Mental Health Institute from where she retired in 1989. Upon retirement, at age 63, she launched a new career when she became an insurance agent for AFLAC. She retired for the second time in 2010. Veda was a 50 year member of Founders' Chapter A of T.T.T., Ruth Circle of First Presbyterian Church where she had served as an Elder. She also served as chairman of the church funeral committee for many years, as well as cooking for the Presbyterian Old Threshers Food Tent. Veda was a 50+ year member of Bethlehem Chapter #38 Order of the Eastern Star serving as secretary for over 20 years, Jerusalem Chapter #13 Order of the White Shrine, and was secretary for the Mt. Pleasant Temple Board Association. Her hobbies included cooking for family gatherings, listening to music and singing. Traveling to visit with family and friends was a favorite pastime for Veda. She also loved family activities with the Henry County Saddle Club. Survivors include four children, Robert H. (Reina) Bates of Cartagena, Colombia, Rebecca Siberts of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Roger (Terri) Bates of Euless, TX, and Regina (William) Erickson of Mt. Pleasant, IA; one brother, Virgil Egli of Leawood, KS; eleven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Along with her husband, Bob, she was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Verle Egli; two sisters, Velta Egli and Vernelda McCabe; and a grandson, Matthew Bates.