Marjorie Bates, 85, of Griswold, passed away Friday, December 5, 2008, at University of Nebraska Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.

Marjorie Maxine Hummel was born December 25, 1922, to William Howard and Gladys Glee (Turner) Hummel at Oakland, Iowa. She attended Oakland schools graduating in 1940 and on June 6, 1940 was united in marriage to Lyle Mayne Bates at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Marge and Lyle farmed northwest of Griswold until his death on November 26, 1991. Marge continued to live on the farm until 2 years ago when she moved into assisted living at Risen Son in Council Bluffs but her heart was still on the farm. Marge will be remembered for her love of family, cooking, church, and farming. She was an active member of the Central Church of Christ in Griswold and a member of the Griswold Optimist Club.

Her husband, Lyle; brothers, Harry, Don, Jack, and Norman Hummel; sisters, Veryldene Kolby and Glenda Perdue and a grandson, Steven Bates, preceded Marge in death.

Survivors include a son, Dennis of Council Bluffs; a daughter, Beth Slagle (Dan) of Sargent, NE; and a son, Kenton (Pam) of Griswold. Grandchildren: Brian (Kathy) Bates and children Christopher and Allison of Griswold; Kevin (Dacia) Bates of Merrill, Iowa; Aaron (Megan) Bates and children Jordyn, McKenzie and Alex of Red Oak; Kayla (Derek) Spence and son Kenson of Wilbur, NE; Jared Slagle of Gothenburg, NE; Kirk Bates, Benjamin Bates and Caleb Bates all of Des Moines, IA. Also surviving are her brothers, E. E. (Sport) Hummel of Oakland and Kenneth Hummel of Council Bluffs, her sister Rilma Hummel of Omaha and her uncle, Max Hummel of Griswold.

Funeral services will be held at the Central Church of Christ in Griswold on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at the Whipple Cemetery. Open visitation will be at the Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold and the family will be present from 6:30 to 7:30 on Monday evening.