Rhonda Bates

Live stream of funeral service for Ivan and Rhonda can be found on Ivan's obituary page or click the link below. Ivan LaSelle Bates: husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend, artist, massage therapist, and patriot. He went home to his Lord and Savior on July 22, 2024, at the age of 84 years old. Ronelle (Roni, Rhonda) June Jenison: wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend. She went home to her Lord and Savior on July 24, 2024. Together in life, and together in death. Ivan was born on March 8, 1940, to Ivan Lorenzo Bates and Elsie Mae Hollingshead Bates at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Ivan is the first of nine children including: Sandra, Ron, Bonnie, Shirley, Betty, Phillip, Donna, and Gail. Ivan was an artist, specializing in pen and ink, made and sold model airplanes, was marble champion, loved to bow hunt, run track, and played on the high school football team. As a teenager, he spent his summers on his uncles' (Rex Shumway and Burt Solomon) farms milking cows, hauling hay, moving sprinklers, and building sheds. Ivan looked back on these summers as definitive in helping him become fit and health conscious. Ivan graduated high school from Camelback High in Phoenix, Arizona. He served in the Gulf States Mission - teaching discussions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through memorized lessons, and loving the southern people and culture. He developed a photographic memory this way. In 1961, Ivan developed Hepatitis A after donating blood, and became ill and lost so much weight, that he was sent home. Thankfully, he eventually recovered. He married Lois Adams in 1961. From this marriage, Ivan was blessed with three children: Louise, Roland, and Julie. Although this marriage was not meant to last. Later, Ivan trained for a few months in the Army National Guard, but miraculously did not have to fight in the Vietnam War. Ivan viewed and loved everyone he met as a Child of God and genuinely cared about each person he interacted with. Ivan was very health conscious and particular about nutrition. He ate avocados, watermelon, and carrot juice like there was not tomorrow, and was dedicated to living the healthiest life possible to combat his genetic high cholesterol, thus extending his life by almost 60 years, blessing the lives of so many. As a family we often joked he was composed of 33% avocado, 33% watermelon, and 33% carrot juice. Ronelle (Roni, Rhonda) June Jenison was born on October 26, 1941, in Santa Ana, California to Rollin Jemison and Irene Schultz Jenison. She was their only child. The family moved to Phoenix, Arizona a few months later, where Ronelle spent most of her childhood. Because of a series of unfortunate events Ronelle spent much of her childhood in a few orphanages. Where along with the positives and negatives of such a life, she learned resiliency and determination. At the age of 14, Ronelle was found by Maxine Wick, who was a nurse that had assisted and cared for her father. Ronelle moved in with Maxine Wick's family. Ronelle was so grateful that Maxine had the strong impression that she needed to come home with her and followed through with the prompting. This was a mighty miracle in Ronelle's life. She was taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and delivered to her forever family: Conrad and Kay Allen in 1955. Ronelle has many fond memories of life with the Allens, who were always there for her, and taught her love, acceptance, that she wasn't alone, and how to be a family. Ronelle gained mainly siblings: Chris, Noelle, Corey, Kevin, Melody, Shawn, and Elizabeth, who had a strong bond with her, and they loved spending time together. She was forever grateful for their endless love. Ronelle had many talents: she was on the track team, she was an artist, participated in beauty queen competitions, and even modeled. Ronelle went by the nickname of "Roni" through her school years, and she is still lovingly referred to as Roni by her siblings. Roni married Eddie Waters 1960, and was thrilled to welcome her two children Carole, and Noelle. Although this marriage was not meant to last. Roni may have been shy, but she was smart as a whistler. She learned accounting, became a dental hygienist (dental assistant), and became an expert researcher; having a love of learning how things work and becoming proficient in it. She was a wonderful baker and confectioner, and taught her daughters the love of art. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake and Peach Cobbler were some family favorites. Ivan and Roni met at an Institute dance in 1971. As Ivan hadn't found the dance as exciting as he had hoped, he hopped in his car to leave. When a group of girls ran up and begged him to stay – one of these young ladies was Roni. As soon as she saw Ivan she knew she must meet him, although she didn't know what it was about him, or why. As introverted as she was, she led her friends to his car to beg him to stay, because she just couldn't let him leave. Ivan singled out Roni in the group and danced with her all night. Several other men asked her to dance, to which Ivan replied, "I've been looking for her my whole life and I won't ever let her go." Two weeks later, they were engaged, both knowing assuredly that they were made for each other. On May 13, 1971, Ivan and Roni were wed, never looking back. Soon after marrying each other, Roni changed her name to Rhonda so she would stop being called the boy's name of "Ronnie", from that point on she went by and was known as Rhonda. Although, she still allowed her siblings only to continue calling her Roni. Each of their children from previous marriages were so very precious to Ivan and Rhonda; and they did everything in their power to love, support, and cherish them. As if they weren't crazy enough, they had four more children together! Evan, Tricia, Morgan, and Kristi. This brought their total child count to nine! Ivan discovered a love of massage therapy and continued to massage professionally throughout most of his adult life, not retiring until the age of 78. Life was often harder than easier for Ivan and Rhonda. Ivan had genetic high cholesterol that took a toll on his body and worried Ronnie sick – after all, Ivan had several heart attacks and heart surgeries (most of which should have killed him). Ivan's father and grandfather died of heart attacks, as well.. While Rhonda suffered with almost debilitating anxiety the rest of her life, Ivan and Rhonda found strength and comfort in the Lord and in each other. Ivan and Rhonda's love for each other was unparalleled, rivaling, and surpassing the greatest love stories ever told. Their partnership, companionship, their teamwork, was embedded in a deep foundation of the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their Savior, Jesus Christ, making them unwavering and immovable. Even in the midst of loss of parents and children, Evan and Morgan, nothing could tear them apart. In fact, it made them stronger together. Ivan and Rhonda's bond was so strong that even in death they could not be separated. Ivan never left Rhonda's side, even after he passed from this mortal life, staying with his sweetheart and then taking her home with him two days later. This kind of love, commitment, and devotion do exist, and does live beyond this life, and in the lives of their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and in the legacy, they left in their wake, and will continue into eternity, where they will live HAPPILY EVER AFTER free of the ails and torments of this mortal life. Ivan and Rhonda are survived by their 7 children Louise, Roland, Julie, Carole, Noelle, Tricia, and Kristi, and 22 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. A viewing will be held August 3, 2024 at 9:30-10:30 am at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W South Jordan Pkwy with Funeral Service at 11:00 am at the same location. We are so grateful to have been blessed with Ivan and Rhonda's presence and love in this life, they will be deeply missed. Together in life, and together in death. "Our family will be together forever."