addition to farming. In the late 1990's he went to work for Young-Love Construction building grain elevators in the Midwest. On April 23, 1999, his wife Diane died in Oskaloosa. Following the death of his wife he continued to travel the Midwest building grain bins. On March 3, 2001, he was united in marriage to Ida Mae Lang in Menno, South Dakota. The two of them made their home on a farm near Freeman. Ernie was currently working for Stern Oil Company in Freeman. He was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa and was attending the Zion Reformed Church in Menno, South Dakota. He loved to travel, he especially looked forward to the annual fishing trip with his family to Canada in late Summer, before the harvest. He enjoyed fishing, carpentry work, gardening, and building birdhouses. One of his favorite road trips was when he and Ida Mae drove to Alaska to visit his cousin he hadn't seen in over 40 years. He had a servant heart and it was important to him that his children learned the value of helping those around them. He delighted in spending time with his family, they were his greatest joy in life.
His family includes his wife, Ida Mae Plate of Freeman, South Dakota; seven children, Debra (Dennis) Rooda of Harvey, Kim Plate (Ken Olson) of Newton, Regin (Michelle) Plate of Magnolia, Texas, Russell (Angela) Plate of Oskaloosa, Quentin (Gena) Plate of Oskaloosa, Kristin (Troy) Lang of Pleasant Hill, and Brennan Plate (Jenny Shipay) of Oskaloosa; 19 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; four step children, Blanche (Jody) Hoff of Tea, South Dakota, Jerome (Sarah) Lang of Del Rapid, South Dakota, Nicole (Dustin) Hill of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Caleb Lang (Lauren Chirnside) of Ames; and five step grandchildren.
In addition to his first wife Diane, he was preceded in death by his parents; and a step son, Wade Lang.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. in the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 Tuesday morning in the lower level of the church. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Monday morning after 11:00 in the First Christian Reformed Church and the family will be at the church from 5-8 Monday evening to greet friends and relatives. The family is planning a celebration of life ceremony for Ernie at a later date in South Dakota. Memorials may be made to the Oskaloosa Christian Grade School.
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