1911 ~ 2004
LaRue Parkinson Nielson Bates died peacefully on April 20, 2004 in Provo, Utah.
She was born August 1, 1911 in Pocatello, Idaho to Niels Peter Nielson and Susanna Smart Parkinson, and was a granddaughter to Samuel Rose Parkinson and Mariah Smart; early Mormon Pioneers. She was raised in Grace, Idaho, Park City and Salt Lake City.
LaRue attended East High and LDS Business School. On February 12, 1931 LaRue married Vane Quentin Bates in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She was the proud mother of four sons who were raised in Idaho, New Mexico, and Los Angeles.
LaRue was a faithful member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. She served gladly in many capacities, including temple worker in the St. George Temple, and twice as a Relief Society president. She also worked for the Los Angeles school district for many years. She was a founding member of the PWA club.
LaRue was preceded in death by her husband Vane Quentin Bates; her parents; brothers, Bob and Wayne; and sister Unita.
She is survived by her sons Vane Quentin Bates Jr. (Anna) of Littleton, CO; Richard Nielson Bates of Redding, CA; Steven Ray Bates (Sarah) of Escondido, CA; and Thomas Niel Bates (Joy) of Whittier, CA; her sister Mary Flewelling of Twin Falls, ID; 11 grandchildren, and 11 great- grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 24, 2004, at 11:00 a.m. in the Cascade Chapel
at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary 495 S. State Street, Orem. Friends may call 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the services at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.sundbergolpinmortuary.com.
Our family appreciates the kindness and care shown to LaRue by the staff at the Courtyard at Jamestown and the East Lake Care Center. Interment will be in the Val Halla Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.