Cheryl Lynn Kates

5/13/56-4/21/13 San Diego – Cheryl Lynn Kates, 56, of Clairemont and widow of Robert Kates, married for 23 years, passed away to join her loving husband in heaven.  She is survived by: two children, Joshua and Tera Kates; daughter in-law Megan Kates; and grandchild Renley June Kates. She was preceded in death by: her grandparents, Clarence and Mildred Folden; loving father, Delbert Folden; mother Nettie Armstrong; Aunt Lucella Armstrong, Uncle Norris Folden, Aunt Jeanette Violet, Uncle Leroy Folden, all of Montana. She is also survived by: her sister, Kathy Folden of Montana; two nephews, Eric of Utah and Judd of Kalispell; an uncle, Arnie of Ronan; two aunts; four cousins, Clint (Kim) of Arlee, and Kurt of Polson, Allen of Pennsylvania and Lonnie of Ronan, and four others as well as numerous extended grieving family and friends. She was a strong woman whose business acumen helped her husband build and manage a thriving family business for 22 years.  Through her hard shell, Cheryl was also known as a loving and caring soul with the warmest of hearts.  She enjoyed spending her free time away from the family business with her husband in Mexico where they owned a wonderful piece of property overlooking the Sea of Cortez.  Her warm and loving spirit will truly be missed, but she lives on in the hearts and minds of those who knew, respected, honored and loved her. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 1 at 4661 Ruffner St., San Diego, Calif. 92111 at 2 p.m. A memorial service will be arranged back in Montana to be determined at a later time.