Adelaide M. van der Veen

Adelaide Martha Johanna (Van Liefde) van der Veen, known to many as “Bobonne” or Ida, 94 of Soap Lake went home to be with her Savior on June 1, 2013. She was born to Louis Joseph and Martina Van Liefde in Stryp-Eindhoven, Netherlands on August 14, 1918, the seventh of sixteen children. Mrs. van der Veen attended La Sainte Union des Sacre` Coeur (Holy Hearts Union) school with three of her eleven brothers in Renaix, Belgium where she was raised. At the age of fourteen, she began training in her father’s cosmetology salon, making wigs and perfume. She also studied podiatry and massage and graduated with a certificate. She continued to work there until the age of 30. When her mother became ill and was near death, Ida promised to finish raising her younger siblings and did so. During World War II, she was a member of the Red Cross and helped with many atrocities, including helping Jewish people to escape to Holland, which was a neutral country. In 1953 at the age of 35 she immigrated to Windsor, Ontario, Canada by ship with her three dogs and all of her belongings. She worked there in her brother’s salon and while there she met and married Hubert LeBlanc, a professional race horse jockey. In 1956 they moved to Detroit, Michigan, and in 1958 their only daughter, Dominique, was born. In 1961, after her marriage had ended, she moved with her daughter to Escondido, California and worked at The Golden Door Health Spa, where many celebrities stayed. While there she massaged and cared for Zsa Zsa and Ava Gabor, amongst others. While looking for a pasture for her daughter’s pony, she met a Dutchman named Sam van der Veen, who worked at the Hollandia Dairy. In 1967 they were married and later moved to Spanaway, Washington. There, they took over a dairy and later in 1971, they started a new dairy in Mae Valley, near Moses Lake. After selling the dairy in Moses Lake, they moved to the Royal Slope area and seed farmed. In 1976 they moved to the Grant Orchards area and cattle farmed where Ida continued to live until her death. Throughout her life, Ida was surrounded by many dogs, cats and birds. They were her “kids” and she cared for them more than herself. While living on the Royal Slope, she began taking painting lessons. She was an excellent artist and continued to paint throughout her life, finishing her last painting just two weeks before her death. After moving to the Soap Lake area, she joined the Sagebrusher’s Art Association and was a faithful member for many years. She also belonged to the Soap lake Art Guild. Her artistic ability also included being an excellent seamstress, as well as being skilled at knitting. She was also experienced at making Tennerief Lace, which is a dying art originating in Portugal and Spain. Most days you could find Ida in her yard working and tending to her many plants and nut trees if she wasn’t working on another painting. Mrs. van der Veen is survived by her daughter Dominique (Steve) Noah of Soap Lake; two step-daughters, Grace Wong and Rena Stevens of California; a sister, Therese` Hantson, Renaix, Belgium; three brothers, Stephan Van Liefde, Bruges, Belgium, Alois Van Liefde, Renaix, Belgium, and John Van Liefde, Mission Viejo, California; four grandchildren: Stephenie Noah, Mouloolaba, Queensland, Australia; Derek (Melissa) Noah, Soap Lake, Chad Noah, East Wenatchee, and Brielle Noah, Quincy, and two great grandchildren, Ethan and Kylie Noah, Soap Lake. She was preceded in death by her husband Sam van der Veen, her parents, eight brothers, and three sisters. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Ephrata, Washington with Father Seamus Kerr officiating. Please sign the online guestbook at www.kayserschapel.com Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Grant County Animal Outreach 6725 Randolph Road NE, Moses Lake, Washington 98837, Soap Lake Senior Center PO Box 186 Soap Lake, WA 98851, or the Soap Lake Art Guild PO Box 1592 Soap Lake, WA 98851 in memory of Ida van der Veen.

Adelaide M. van der Veen

August 14, 1918 - June 1, 2013