August 19 1934 May 20 2020
Marlene’s Obituary Marlene Bates, 85, of Drayton, North Dakota passed away on May 20, 2020 in Fargo, ND with her family by her side. Marlene was born August 19, 1934 to Mildred (Talley) and Herman Mosolf and spent her her life in the Bowesmont and Drayton areas until her elder years. Marlene attended country school in her youth often riding on horseback or in horse drawn carriages. She attended Drayton High School and graduated in the class of 1952. She worked as a young woman at the local clothing store as well as the Drayton State Bank. She married Donald Bates, the love of her life in 1955 and they were married 65 years. Marlene’s life’s work was her family. She would sew her children’s clothes, bake delicious pies and deserts and make sure tasty meals were ready for Donald when he came in late from the field and take full course meals to the farm during the busy harvest season. She also would work a seasonal job on a potato harvester and later enjoyed working for the Drayton School as a cook. Marlene was very socially active in the Drayton community and her church, holding offices in the Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League, Weight Watchers, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Drayton Senior Center. In her later years Marlene and Donald lived in the Tisdale Apartments where she could be found putting together numerous jigsaw puzzles, or at the Senior Center playing cards or Bingo. Marlene loved seeing her family grow and as her children left home for college and eventually had their own families the children and grandchildren could always count on a “grandma” package full of interesting goodies and her famous bars. A voicemail from Grandma Marlene was always a news bulletin about all the goings on in Drayton as well as lots of love. Marlene loved her life and friends and it was a difficult decision to leave her beloved home when it became necessary that she and Donald would need more care. They made their home in Grand Forks and eventually Fargo to be closer to family. Marlene was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Aldon, Marvin, and Kenneth, sisters Florence, and Lois and daughter Linda. She is survived by her husband Donald, sister Delores, children Nina Hanson (Clint), Carol Benson (Lyle), Jefferey Bates (Michele), and Suzanne Johnsen, eleven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. She will be sorely missed and remembered lovingly by all. A visitation for Marlene will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 23, 2020 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. with a private family funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Drayton City Cemetery at 12:00 following the service. Rev. Bernhard Seter, presiding; Sheila Weinleader, organist. Casket bearers will be Clint Hanson, Lyle Benson, Elliot Bates, Rick Bustrom, Alan Libbrecht and Tyler Cunningham. The family requests masks be worn to protect those who are the most vulnerable. In lieu of flowers Marlene’s family request that memorials be given to the Drayton Senior Center. Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marlene Bates August 19 1934 May 20 2020.
Death notice for the town of: Stephen, state: Minnesota