Veda Faro

Veda Mae Faro, the daughter of Kenneth and Alice (Surles) Griffin, was born on May 21, 1942, in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Veda attended Northeast Hamilton High School and graduated in 1961.

Veda married the love of her life, Frank Faro, on June 27, 1987, in Webster City. They built a life together on a farm outside of Stanhope. Veda’s three children from a previous marriage, Chris, Randy, and Shelly combined with Frank’s children, Dani and Tony, built a family filled with love, support, and the best frosted cutout cookies ever made.

Veda devoted 33½ years to working at the ASCS office in Webster City. She also spent many nights working at the Pioneer in Stratford and after working at the ASCS office, worked at McMurray Hatchery taking orders. One of Veda’s favorite things to do was get together with her card club and mahjong ladies. She was a fierce competitor when it came to winning at cards, especially if she was playing against Frank.

Veda found great joy in baking and putting together meals for family gatherings. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter meals were made to fill you up and take home leftovers for days to come. She always had everyone’s favorite food at all big gatherings and made sure to pass on to all of her grandchildren that the lid on the crockpot stuffing did not open until it was finished cooking…some had to learn that lesson the hard way.

Family was extremely important to Veda and she made sure to keep her extended family connected by hosting the best 4th of July reunion and New Year’s Eve bowling tradition. She instilled memories in all of her family members and taught the importance of staying present in each other's lives.

Veda will be deeply missed, but she has passed down so many of her wonderful traits that she will never be forgotten. Anytime her famous frosted cutout cookies are made for a special occasion or when one of her daughters or granddaughters lets out that famous Griffin cackle her love will be felt.

Veda is survived by her husband of 38 years, Frank; children Chris (Rob) Kastler of Woolstock, Iowa, Randy (Shelby) Nelson of Valley City, North Dakota, Shelly (Craig) Habben of Hartford, South Dakota, Dani Faro of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Tony (Bree) Faro of Des Moines, Iowa; 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren; sisters Karen Sullivan and Verna Dinsdale of Webster City, Iowa and Nancy (LeRoy) Cooper of Belmond, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Alice Griffin; brother, Barry Surles; brother-in-law, Ed Sullivan; nephew, Matthew Surles.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 26, at the Woolstock Community Hall (102 McArthur St., Woolstock).