Mabel Gates - obituary

Faribault Daily News (MN) - Saturday, August 26, 2006 KENYON -- Mabel Olivia Gates, almost 90!, of Kenyon, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006, at District One Hospital in Faribault, with her children by her side.

Mabel Olivia Mork was born Sept. 12, 1916, in Kenyon to Ralph and Mathilda Mork. She attended elementary and high school in Kenyon graduating with the Class of 1934. She then graduated from the Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester in 1937. Her diploma was signed by Drs. Will and Charlie Mayo. She worked doing private duty nursing from 1937 to 1939.

On Sept. 9, 1939, she was married to Don Gates Sr. They lived in Dubuque, Iowa, Minneapolis and Kenyon, Minn. In 1950, she went to work at the Faribault State School and Hospitals to "buy a freezer for the family." She stayed 28 years until 1978 when she retired from the renamed Faribault Regional Center. She was the Center Unit Supervisor and was very active in the Minnesota Humane Practices Committee for a number of years.

In retirement, she was a Kenyon Area Hospice and Red Cross Bloodmobile volunteer. She was a member of the Kenyon Lodge of Sons of Norway, Faribault Order of Eastern Star, Kenyon VFW Post #141 Auxiliary, and First Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir for 70+ years. She loved watching sports on TV especially the Twins or Vikings, where she could be heard loudly cheering on her teams, or telling them which way to run or block from her TV chair. Most of all, she loved keeping up with her family's activities no matter where they were, or what they were doing. Her "MabsMobile" was often seen cruising Kenyon, just "checking on us."

She is survived by a loving extended family, daughter, Mary Danielson-Gates, son, Rick Gates and daughter-in-law, Janice Gates, all of Kenyon; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, Clifford Mork of Little Rock, Ark.; and sister, Lila Johnson of Dallas, Texas; as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don; son, Donnie; sister, Irene; and great-granddaughter, Christy Sibley.

Visitation will be Sunday, Aug. 27, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Hanson Funeral Home in Kenyon. The funeral will be Monday, Aug. 28, at 2 p.m. with Pastor Luther Mathsen officiating at First Lutheran Church in Kenyon. Music will be provided by Annette Thunhorst, pianist; Caryl Jorgensen, soloist; and the First Lutheran Choir.

Faribault Daily News (MN) - Saturday, August 26, 2006