Verda Aegerter

The Reverend Verda Aegerter is a woman who inspires and touches the lives of countless people, not only by the example of her own achievements, but also by direct contact through the ministry, through friendship, and throughout her family. All who meet her are greeted by a warm smile and kind word. If guidance is needed, she can easily provide it; if it is simply a sympathetic ear that is needed, hers is always available. She is a woman who can speak before hundreds and understand the needs of individuals. This is a short summary of her life-a life that continues to explore. We are all challenged to follow her example, if only for some small portion of our lives.

Verda Wright Aegerter was bom February 22, 1915 in Calhoun County, Iowa. After graduating from Rockwell City High School, she taught in one-room country schools in Iowa until her marriage. On June 6, 1936 she married Harold Aegerter and lived on a Calhoun County farm to farm and raise a family of three children. After a farm related accident led to the death of her husband in December of 1954, Verda moved to Ames, Iowa.

All three children graduated from Ames High School and then from Iowa State College. Verda also enrolled at Iowa State and graduated at the same time as her second child, John. She worked at the First United Methodist Church and Iowa State to support her family and pay tuition. Upon graduation from Iowa State in the Fall of 1961, Verda enrolled and graduated from Drake Theological School in Des Moines. Verda then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to be on the staff of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church where she became a fully ordained United Methodist pastor. Membership and evangelism were Verda's primary work at Hennepin where she also led trips to Israel. Verda retired from the full time pastorate in 1994 and now enjoys a life of writing leading workshops, guest preaching, and attending elderhostels.

Additional Information: Oldest daughter Evelyn graduated before Verda did. She taught Home Economics for 4 years then married Roger Baldwin, also a grad of ISU. Their three sons, Don, Greg, and Brian, have all graduated from ISU. Son John who graduated with Verda went into the forest service and lives in Oregon. His wife Brenda Mellon is also an ISU grad. Youngest daughter Beverly Aegerter Power also an ISU grad now lives in California. 7/1/96