Frances Gates

1925 - 2016

Frances Gates

Frances "Frannie" Gates, 91, passed away, Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at Sanford Canton-Inwood Hospital. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 at Bethany Reformed Church in Canton. Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 8:00 p.m. at Bethany Reformed Church in Canton, with family present from 6 to 8:00 p.m.

Frannie was born April 8, 1925 at Rowena, SD to Marinus and Gertrude (Roozenboom) Middendorp. Her family moved to Hollandale, MN in 1926, where Frannie went to grade school. Her family moved to a farm south of Inwood, IA in 1941. She married Frances Gates March 15, 1946 at Luverne, MN. They made their home in Canton where they raised four children. Her husband, Francis, died in 1999.

Frannie was a member of Bethany Reformed Church since 1959, where she helped organize and build their church in Canton. She served as a Sunday school teacher and was on the call committee. She was a member of the VFW and Legion Auxiliaries and Sons of Norway. Frannie worked at the Canton Veterinary Clinic for many years. She loved cooking, baking, and feeding her family and friends. She also enjoyed sewing, fishing, crafts, crocheting, quilting, cards, and Bingo.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children- Judy Oliver, Canton, Peggy Moore, Forest Lake, MN, Laurie Wiebe (Brett Burkel), Canton, and Jim (Laurie) Gates, Canton; 9 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; her sister, Irene (Lester) Williams, Canton; along with many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Francis, and sisters, Cornelia Kuiper and Wilma Middendorp.

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