Marlos Joanne Bates, 83

Marlos Joanne Bates went home to be with her Lord and Savior on May 29, 2021. Her funeral will be held at Whitehall Baptist Church on Saturday June 5th, at 2:30 with reception to follow. All who know and loved Marlos are invited. She was born to Virgil Franklin Hayward and Anna Myrtle (Cruse) Hayward on March 25, 1938 in Shevlin MN.

She grew up as the youngest of 15 siblings with nieces and nephews born before her. This gave her an extraordinarily strong sense of family. She was excited to get married and have her own children. She met the love of her life, Kenneth Bates at the young age of 15 and married him at 16.

Upon being married she started her journey of motherhood. She had 6 children all while working various jobs. She enjoyed hosting events, helping, and serving at the church and being a kind neighbor to anyone in need. Later in life her final career endeavor was owning several Stageline pizzas and passing on that tradition to some of her children.

Her sense of family was extremely strong. She loved her immediate family wholeheartedly. However, her sense of family extended far beyond her nuclear family; she loved her extended family and church family immensely. She was known by many as Grandma Bates. She was happiest when her family was together having fun. She enjoyed hosting holidays and BBQ's. Her and Ken loved to travel. They especially loved their times in Alaska fishing and crabbing. Her daughters and granddaughters grew up watching her canning, and baking breads and pies. She was a great role model.

She survived her husband by 6 months and is survived by her 6 children, Jodi (Rick) Gontz, Sherri (Mick) Martin, Cindi (Darron) Frye, Ken (Tina) Bates, Heidi (Rod) Ypma and Tammi Bates and sister Donna Soderstrom and sister-in-law Elaine Rex. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed but we rejoice in knowing we will see her again in our forever home because of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.