Velda E. Conner

Velda Conner, 84, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at Pleasant Manor Care Center. A visitation will be held from 2:00 -7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2016, at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel where the family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. that evening. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 4th at the Olson-Powell Chapel with Bryan Katchay officiating. Inurnment will be at Forest Home Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Alzheimer's Association and Special Olympics of East Central Iowa. On-line condolences may be directed to www.olsonpowell.com. Born December 23, 1931 in West Grove, IA, Velda Elaine was the daughter of Earl MaCajah and Frances Marie (Campbell) Benge. She was a 1950 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. On June 19, 1954, she married Paul J. Conner at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. Velda began her work career in 1949 with the phone company in Mt. Pleasant. She later worked at the Iowa Ammunitions Plant in Middletown, IA. Upon moving to Cedar Rapids in 1958, she worked at a nursing home in Marion, IA. She retired from the Cedar Rapids School District where she had worked in food service. The couple moved back to Mt. Pleasant in 2005. A loving wife and mother, Velda loved kids and helped raise her grandchildren. She served as a Cub Scout den mother. Many summers were spent camping with extended family around Iowa. Favorite hobbies included bowling, square dancing, gardening and pulling weeds. An avid reader, she enjoyed romance novels. She loved to vacuum which served as a great source of stress relief. Velda attended the Alliance Church on 42nd Street in Cedar Rapids. Survivors include her husband, Paul, of Mt. Pleasant, IA; four children, Steve Conner of Cedar Rapids, IA, Jeff (Ann) Conner of Marion, IA, Tracy (Cheryl) Conner of Cedar Rapids, IA and Loralee (Ben) Walker of Mt. Vernon, IA; six grandchildren, Audrey (Josh) Blount, Logan Walker, Dylan Walker, Sean Conner, Ian Conner, and Matt Conner; two brothers, LaVerne Benge of Glendale, AZ and Wade (Dee) Benge of Mt. Pleasant, IA; two sisters, Illyne Nichols of Bushnell, IL and Sherriell Detrick of Mt. Pleasant, IA; and two sister-in laws, Delores Benge of Mt. Pleasant, IA and Paula Benge of Ft. Madison, IA. Preceding her in death were her parents; and three brothers, Wayne Benge, Dillon Benge, and Curtis Benge. The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to Pleasant Manor Care Center and Sunnybrook Assisted Living for the wonderful care provided to Velda in her final years. Cemetery Details Forest Home Cemetery South Walnut Street Mt. Pleasant, IA, 52641 Visitation JUN 3. 02:00 PM - 07:00 PM Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel 709 Mapleleaf Drive Mt Pleasant, IA, US, 52641 olsonpowell@lisco.com Family will be present JUN 3. 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel 709 Mapleleaf Drive Mt Pleasant, IA, US, 52641 olsonpowell@lisco.com Funeral Service JUN 4. 11:00 AM Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel 709 Mapleleaf Drive Mt Pleasant, IA, US, 52641 olsonpowell@lisco.com