Wilma Pauline Bates

Wilma Pauline Bates passed quietly from this life to the next in the early morning hours of May 31, 2021 at the Beaver City Manor, she was 91 years of age. Wilma was born in Hendley, Nebraska on February 20, 1930 to George and Bertha Lehn Brubaker. Wilma lived in Hendley until 1941, the family then moved to Beaver City where she would graduate with the class of 1947. After graduation Willie, as she was known to friends and family, became a rural schoolteacher. Willie caught the eye of A. LaVerne Bates they fell in love and were married in a small family ceremony on January 1, 1951. In 1952 they begin their family with the birth of Penny Jean and she was followed by three more children, Allen Roy, Anita Kay and Clark Louis. Willie trained as a beautician and opened Bates Beauty Shop in 1962, a business she would operate until her retirement in 1987. Willie confessed Jesus as Lord and was baptized at the First Christian Church in Beaver City. She was actively involved serving in the church as a Sunday school teacher, Bible Study Leader, Choir Member and encourager of many. Willie also enjoyed a ministry of hospitality and received great joy from hosting others in her home. Willie always looked forward to being with her family and she considered her grandchildren and great grandchildren as her greatest blessing. Willie liked a good cup of coffee especially when it involved a conversation with another. Willie was preceded in death by her parents, husband LaVerne, daughter Penny Wagner and son-in-law Mike Wagner, Sisters, Dorothy Schmidt and Shirley Cole and brother-in-law John Schmidt. Those left to mourn her passing include her children, Allen and wife Glenda Bates of Eminence, MO. Anita and husband Tom Artz of Lincoln, NE and Clark and wife Dawna Bates of McCook, NE. Grandchildren; Adam (Samantha) Wagner, Amie Wagner, Allynda (Kyle) Callies, Joel (Julie) Bates, Jon (Tessa) Bates, Jordan (Nikki) Bates, Hannah Bates, Melissa (Chad) Anderson, Christopher (Heather) Artz, Tyler (Amber) Artz, Bryson (Hope) Bates, Seth (Sandy) Bates, Bethany (Paul) Putz, Kendra (Willie) Williams. Great-Grandchildren, Sagelynn (Josh) Shapiro, Izack, James, Nonia, Kyla, Emma, Clare, Caleb, Abigail, Fiona, Mika, Audrey, Godfrey, Desmond, Kaylee, Zachary, Bethany, Owen, Oliver, Jane, Benjamin, Samuel, William, Bryson Roy, Jack, Liam, Max, Leighton, Lynndon, Louison, Tre, Carter, Drake, Ahria and great-granddaughter Nayome Funeral Services will take place on Saturday, June 19, 10:30 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Beaver City, NE with her sons Allen and Clark Bates, officiating. Inurnment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Beaver City, Nebraska. Memorials may be given in her name to Discovery Ministries HC 3 Box 32, Eminence, Mo 65466. Wenburg Funeral Home of Beaver City, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences and personal reflections may be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com.