Veda Heath

Click Here To View Memorial Video Veda Belle Smith Bendixsen Heath, 92, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away July 5, 2013, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Veda Belle Smith Heath was born January 27, 1921, in Ammon, Idaho, to George Abraham and Lovina Shurtliff Smith. She was the sixth of ten children who grew up in the farming community of Ammon, where Veda attended elementary and high school. Following her graduation she enrolled in Excelsis Beauty School and also worked in several department stores. She married Gene Bendixsen in 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple and they made their homes in Jameston and Shelley. During the war years they moved to Salt Lake City, where they served as workers in the Ordnance House of the War Department where munitions were developed and manufactured. They later settled in Shelley where they farmed and where Gene later became a prominent distributor for American Oil Company and mayor of Shelley. Unable to have children of their own, the couple adopted two baby girls, Vicki in 1948 and Gaylia in 1953. Due to declining health, Gene moved his family to Seattle, Washington, where they managed apartments. Gene suffered a heart attack and passed away in 1979. Veda later returned to Idaho Falls, where she became reacquainted with a former classmate, Ersel Heath, during a high school reunion. After a short courtship the two married in 1984. They spent many happy years traveling, touring and RV-ing, after which they established dual residences in St. George and Idaho Falls. In 2006 they moved to Idaho Falls permanently, where they resided until the present time. Veda was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having served in all of the auxiliary organizations. She was always a beautiful, poised, and elegant lady who was a connoisseur of fine foods and an unparalleled hostess. She was loved and admired by all who knew her. Following a slow decline in health over the course of the past several weeks, Veda slipped away peacefully from this life July 5, 2013. She is survived by her husband, Ersel Heath; daughter, Vicki Lindberg; step-children, Kenneth and Jim (Jean) Heath, Joan (John) Fisher, and Barb (Mike) Latschar; 11 step-grandchildren; her brothers, Max Smith of San Lorenzo, CA, C. Jack (Joan) Smith and Glenn (Elma Jean) Smith; and her sister, Geraldine (Donald) Guymon. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Clyde, George, Leland, Eva, and Bethene Smith Ames; husband, Gene Bendixsen; and daughter, Gaylia Meitzen. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road. The family will receive guests from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at Wood East Side. Interment will be at the Fielding Memorial Park in Idaho Falls.

Funeral Services -- Wednesday

Wednesday July 10, 2013 , 11 a.m. at Wood Funeral Home East Side

The family will receive guests from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at Wood East Side. Burial will be in Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery.