Lawrence Bates, age 84, passed away Dec. 17, 2014, at Homestead Hospice House, Owatonna. Friends may greet the family from 4-7 PM Friday, Dec. 19, at the Brick-Meger Funeral Home (1603 Austin Rd) and one hour prior to the funeral at church, a Knights of Columbus rosary will be recited at 7 PM at the funeral home. Funeral Mass is set for 2:00 PM Saturday, Dec. 20, at St. Joseph Catholic Church (512 S Elm Ave.) with the Steele County Funeral Unit providing military honors. Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Lawrence Ralph Bates (Larry) was born to Hilda and Lawrence Bates in Cashton, Wisconsin on April 14, 1930. He was raised on a farm and enjoyed animals and the outdoors. He graduated from Cashton High School in 1948 where he played on the baseball and basketball teams.
He served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955 and served during the Korean War as an Aviation Electrician AE2. He received an Honorable discharge and received the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
Larry graduated in 1957 from University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a Bachelors degree in Agriculture Education and a minor in Biology. He married Janet Kuss in 1952 while in the Navy, based at the Jacksonville Florida Naval Station.
He started his career as a High School Agriculture teacher in Seneca, Wisconsin, and then was an account manager for Doboy Feeds while based in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and later in New Richmond, Wisconsin, where he was promoted to marketing manager. Career opportunities moved him to Owatonna in 1971 where he worked for Kent feeds in sales. From late 1975-1976 he worked for Kent Feeds in Ames, Iowa in sales. In 1976 he and his family returned to Owatonna. He retired in 1985. Larry was a member and President of the Owatonna Sports Boosters and Founder, and President of the Owatonna Basketball Association. He was a member of the American Legion and Knights of Columbus. He and his wife wintered in Brownsville Texas at the Winterhaven Resort for 20 years where he enjoyed golfing with great friends and being very active. Larry enjoyed golf, gardening, bird watching, hunted and fished. The annual Canadian fishing trip with his boys and great friends grew to include new generations and he kept up the tradition for 40 years. He was an avid sports fan, coaching softball teams in both Owatonna and Brownsville, TX.
He is survived by brother John Bates, Onalaska, WI, and six children: Stephen Bates (Gail) of Prescott, WI, Barbara Bates-Wurst (Dan) of Faribault, MN, Susan Shapiro (Jonathan) of Plano, TX, Alan Bates, (Penny) of Shorewood MN, Phillip Bates (Tricia) of Carver MN, and Bruce Bates (Tracy) of Eagan MN. The grandchildren are: Steve Bates, Mary Getzlaff, Erin Christey, Joseph Christey, Jeffrey Shapiro, Lauren Shapiro, Madison Bates, Hunter Bates, Beau Bates, Bentley Bates, Davis Bates, and Annabelle Bates and great granddaughters Payton and Reese Getzlaff and Kate Bates.
He is preceded in death by parents, Hilda and Lawrence Bates, and his wife, Janet Bates, and sister, Kay Rolph, James Bates and Victor Bates.
Memorials can be made in his name to the American Cancer Society, Disabled American Veterans, or Owatonna Basketball Association.
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