Elaine Bates

Elaine Bates

1928-2020

Elaine Bates, 92, of rural Keswick went to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday morning, Nov. 14, 2020 at her home. Funeral services began at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Deep River. Burial was held in the Sixteen Cemetery near Thornburg. A luncheon was held at the Deep River Community Center following burial. Visitation was held on Monday, Nov. 16, at noon at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m.  Memorials may be directed to the Deep River Calvary Lutheran Church or the Lutheran Hour Ministry.  Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of the arrangements.

Elaine Minnie Neva Bates was born on Oct. 17, 1928, to William and Marie Koehn Tanke at rural Deep River.  She grew up on the family farm and attended country school north of Deep River-Millersburg. She attended the Calvary Lutheran Church and was baptized on Nov. 11, 1928 and confirmed on May 17, 1942.    On Dec. 9, 1951, Elaine was united in marriage to Donald Bates at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Deep River.  They became the parents of three children, Gary, Marie and Gloria.  Elaine was a true farmer’s wife and worked hard on the farm near Keswick.    Together they raised over 3,000 chickens, took care of the eggs, and later butchered them for her family.  She was very supportive of her family and enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s school events as well as babysitting for them when they were younger.    Her children and grandchildren remember all the garden produce, cookies always being in the freezer, the homemade donuts, noodles, angel food cakes and homemade ice cream.  Everything was homemade including the bread.  Elaine also liked to crochet, sew and quilt.  Family was her life.  

Elaine is survived by her husband, Donald of Keswick; her children, Gary (Wanda) Bates of Keswick, Marie (John) Moore of Keswick and Gloria (Greg) Strohman of Webster; her grandchildren, Heidi (Nate) Bjorkgren, Nathan (Shanna) Moore, Mindy (Aaron) Amstutz, Amy (Calvin) Van Genderen, Christopher Bates, Brooke (Matt) Yates, Alissa (Whit) Faas, and Zachary Strohman; her great grandchildren, Caden Van Genderen, Casen Van Genderen, Kaylee Bjorkgren, Jarrett Bjorkgren, Brandt Amstutz, Tucker Amstutz, Wesley Amstutz, Carter Moore, Finn Faas, and Fletcher Faas; her sister, Imogene Pierce of Keswick; her sister-in-law, Zelda Tanke of Deep River; as well as many nieces, nephews and many friends.

Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, William and Marie Tanke; her siblings, William Tanke, Arnold Tanke, Leland (Katherine) Tanke, and brother-in-law, Boyd Pierce.

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