Beth E. Gates, 93

January 9, 1924 -August 12, 2017 • Beth E. Gates passed away peacefully August 12, 2017, at The Village Health Care Center in Missoula from complications of dementia. She was 93 years old.

Beth was born January 9, 1924, in Jasper, Alberta, Canada to Preston E. Berry and Georgena A. Berry.

She lived in Jasper and went to school until she moved to Vancouver, BC to work as a dietitian at the

General Hospital. That is where she met her husband, Ben G. Gates. They married February 12, 1946,

which was six days after Ben’s discharge from the Navy in Vancouver. After getting married, they

moved to Missoula where Ben worked for Montgomery Wards. Beth stayed home and raised

her children before Ben transferred to Polson where he worked for the Montana State Job

Service as the manager. Beth, at that time went to work for the Lake City Bakery. They were then

transferred to Billings where Ben was the Asst. Manager for the Montana State Job Service.

After missing Missoula, they moved back where Beth worked at the Hellgate High School cafeteria as a

cook for 13 years. She retired in 1987. Her passion was her home, gardening, needlepoint and feeding

the squirrels. She loved to can fruit and make her famous zucchini bread. Ben and Beth always enjoyed

vacationing in Jasper, Alberta, Canada. They donated time at the VFW in Missoula and spent time

visiting with friends. One of her most fondest memories was the 50th year wedding anniversary her

children surprised Ben and Beth with at the VFW Club in 1996. They got to dance to one of her favorite

songs “Tiny Bubbles”.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She always spoke about Jasper

Canada and missed her family there. She loved her dogs, Goldie, Buddy and Jesse. Beth will be sadly

missed by her friends and family.

Beth was preceded in death by her husband Ben in 2012, her son Gerald Leroy Gates who passed away

Dec. 25, 2016, and granddaughter Tricia Renee who passed in 1971. She was also preceded by her two

brothers Tom Berry and Charles Berry and her sister Alice Bradley who all lived in Canada. She is

survived by her son, Dennis P. Gates (Linda) of Lolo, daughter Ena. A. Riseling (Mark) of St. Helens, Oregon,

daughter-in-law, Laurel Gates of Polson. Beth is also survived by grandchildren Pat Gates (Allysen) of

Ronan; Jennifer McCarter (Carsten) of Lakewood, Ohio; Stephanie Reed (Tim) of Petaluma, California; Tanya

Gates (Alison) of Florence; Mathew Gates {Tina) of Kalispell. Her great-grandchildren include Alldin

Gates, Sam McCarter, Adelaide McCarter, Justin Gates, and Maxwell Gates.

A memorial service will be at Sunset Memorial Funeral and Cemetery at 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 29 with

Chaplain Dan Dixson officiating. Urn placement will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery and will include the ashes of her beloved dog, Jesse. Special thanks to The Village Health Care Center and Partners In Home Care Hospice for all of the great care our mother received through the years. Special thanks also to

Myrtle Miller who was a good friend until the end. Condolences for Beth’s family may be left at www.sunsetfuneralhomecemetery.com