Verna Dellaine Frederickson

Verna Dellaine Frederickson, 81, passed away on December 4th, 2025, at Arbor Springs after a lengthy and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. A viewing will be from 4 to 7 pm on Monday December 15th, at McLaren’s Chapel, 801 19th street, West Des Moines, IA. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday December 16th at the same location, where a reception will follow. A private interment will be held at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, IA at a future date.

Verna was born May 4th, 1944, in Rhodes, IA, to Donald and Edna (Devault) Langham. She resided in Rhodes until 1948 when the family relocated to Des Moines, IA. Verna grew up on Des Moines’ south side, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1961.

She met her husband to be, Martin Frederickson, when they were both 19 and he showed up to look at her car that was for sale in Des Moines. Marty missed out on the car but asked Verna out. They married in Des Moines in 1966. They were happily married for 59 years and had a beautiful life together, raising two children and being blessed with two grandchildren. Verna was a devoted, loving, inspirational and cherished mother and wife. She was kind to everyone. She was always positive and trying to help others. When folks meet Verna, they would often comment on how nice and friendly she was. She would and did take a coat out of the closet and take it outside to a neighborhood child she didn’t know but who she thought didn’t have a warm enough coat. She was also a longstanding person of faith and member of the West Des Moines United Methodist Church.

Verna started her career in the insurance industry, working for Employer’s Mutual lnsurance, until the birth of her first child. She then devoted herself to being a full-time mom until both children were teenagers. She then returned to work in the industry for the next 23 years, working for Motorways, Ohio Casualty and American Prosthetics and Orthotics, from which she retired in 2008.

Verna was very family oriented. She loved family activities and supporting her kids’ interests and games. She loved all the holidays and made them beautiful for her family. She adored her two grandchildren and delighted in spending time with them.

Her other interests included a love of gymnastics growing up, decorating the yard with flowers each spring and tending to them in the summer, walking, spending time with her beloved pets, cruising in her Corvette, cooking and baking. She loved to travel and especially enjoyed Hawaii where she and Marty renewed their wedding vows on their 25th wedding anniversary.

Verna is survived by her husband, Marty Frederickson, of West Des Moines, IA, daughter Marcy Frederickson, of Des Moines, IA, son Chad (Nicole) Frederickson, of Lone Tree, CO, brother Tim (Patty) Langham of Des Moines, IA, sister LaDonna Langham, of Benton, KY, grandchildren Logan and Sienna Frederickson of Lone Tree, CO, six beloved nieces and nephews and numerous cousins spread across several states.

Verna was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Edna Langham, sister Crystal Caney, of Conroe, TX and brother-in-law Robert Caney, of Conroe, TX.

For anyone wishing to make a memorial donation, please direct it to West Des Moines United Methodist Church at 720 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265.