Obituary: Gene H. Bates

Gene Harry Bates, 90, of Cloquet passed away Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospice in Duluth. Gene was born Jan. 15, 1934, as one of six children to Lloyd and Verda Bates in Bruno, Minnesota.

Gene was married to Lillian (Breiland) for 61 years. They settled in Cloquet to raise three boys, Gary, Terry, and Scott.

Gene had a long career as a school bus driver as well as the custodian at the Cloquet Middle School, where he befriended many students who, as adults, would often happily say, “Gene, you were my bus driver!”

In his spare time, Gene managed to build two homes and remodel a third where he and Lillian finally settled for good. Gene also drove coach bus for the Cloquet and University of Minnesota Duluth sports teams, whom he enjoyed watching play.

Gene and Lillian often took their camper on trips to California to visit family and also to Washington, D.C. They also traveled overseas in the 1970s while their son Gary was a member of the Duluth Accordionaires.

Gene and Lillian were longtime members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where all three boys were baptized. Gene lost “his Lilly” to a battle with cancer in 2014. Gene was then blessed to find love a second time in Kay (nee Doddridge), and they were married for eight wonderful years filled with dancing, traveling, and attending Bethel Church in Scanlon.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lillian, wife Kay, sons Terry and Scott, and his siblings. Gene is survived by his son Gary and his wife, Beth; daughter-in-law, Lauri; granddaughters, Nicki and Amber; grandson, Garrett; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Services in honor of Gene’s life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 21 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cloquet. Visitation will be held 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service. A lunch will follow. Inurnment will be held at a future date at the Atkinson Cemetery. Arrangements are by Nelson Funeral Care.