Beverly (Bev) Gilbert Bole

Bev was born in Des Moines on November 5, 1928, the second child of Walter and Hilda Gilbert. Her father was a home builder who constructed many homes in the southern Grand neighborhood of Des Moines. Bev’s mother passed away when Bev was just 15 years old.

She attended Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, where she first met her future husband, Bob, in ninth grade. Their first official date was during their senior year, and she graduated in 1947. With her father’s encouragement, Bev attended two years of college at Iowa State University, studying home economics with an emphasis in art, and joining the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Following college, she worked for Farm Bureau Insurance Company in Des Moines.

Bev married Bob on March 17, 1951. After Bob graduated from Iowa State in 1951, the Navy moved them to several locations, including Washington, D.C., Newport, Rhode Island, and Norfolk, Virginia. At the U.S. Navy Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, they welcomed their first son, born October 28, 1953.

They later returned to Des Moines, where Bob worked for Ringland-Johnson Construction. Bev became a stay-at-home mom — a role she deeply valued. Their second son was born on September 29, 1956. Bev was a strong supporter and believer in Bob when he and his partner, Bob King, started what became the successful King-Bole Construction Company in 1964.

Bev and Bob were very active at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where they taught fourth-grade Sunday School for eight years and served as Choir Parents for the high school choir for five years. Bev was also involved in PTA, Art Club, and several bridge groups. She especially cherished the opportunity to work with Charlotte Petersen in helping tell the story of Christian Petersen, a famous artist-in-residence at Iowa State University.

Bev and Bob lived in the Beaverdale area for 25 years and the Urbandale area for 27 years before moving to Edgewater Senior Living in West Des Moines, where they lived for the past 16 years.

Bev’s favorite things included attending Iowa State sporting events, especially with her grandchildren, going out to eat with family and friends after church, and traveling on river cruises in the United States, through the Norwegian fjords, and the Panama Canal. She also loved maneuvering the Honda snow pup when it snowed. She was known for making special birthday cakes and decorated Christmas cookies, creating personalized birthday cards, sharing stories about family history, and her perfectly manicured fingernails and hair that never really grayed. She loved art, appreciated beautiful things, and was always an optimist.

For their 50th wedding anniversary, Bob and Bev celebrated by taking the entire family to Disney World and on a Disney Cruise. They recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. Bev and Bob’s life together tells a story of love, faithfulness, patience, sacrifice, and deep commitment. Through every season, they showed what it means to walk side by side, supporting one another and building a life rooted in love.

Bev is survived by her husband, Robert (Bob) Bole; son, David Bole (Patricia) of Wichita Falls, Texas; son, Dennis Bole (Patty) of Johnston; grandchildren, Ryan Bole, Matthew Bole, and Leah South (Josh); great-grandchildren, Mercy, Lily, Hudson, and Evie South; and three nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Hilda Gilbert; stepmother, Ruth Gilbert; brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Ruth Gilbert; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ruth (Bole) and Cleo Kochheiser.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 17, 2026, at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Pkwy in West Des Moines, IA, with visitation from 10-11 a.m. prior. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Westminster Presbyterian Church Foundation in loving memory of Bev.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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