Elsbeth Bates Obituary

Elsbeth Bates

May 27, 1925 - August 1, 2025

Fresno, California -

Elsbeth Bates went to Heaven on Friday, August 1st, 2025, after a brief illness. Elsbeth was born in Switzerland and, coincidentally, breathed her last on Swiss National Day, celebrated annually in her home country.

In 1949 Elsbeth met and married Alfred, a Swiss native, who happened to be in Switzerland to help settle his parent's estate.

They moved to Sanger in 1952 where they operated a dairy, and had two daughters, Isabel and Susan. Elsbeth's parents and brother joined them in 1954, while one sister stayed behind with her husband in Switzerland.

Elsbeth became a naturalized citizen in 1966 and soon began attending Reedley College. Upon graduation, she went to work for the County of Fresno as an Eligibility Worker in the Welfare Department. She had just had a successful 6-month job evaluation when Alfred was killed in a cattle truck accident. Overnight, she became a widow at age 45.

Several years later, after selling the dairy and moving to Fresno, she met her second husband, John Bates. They shared a love for travel and visited several countries before he unfortunately succumbed to cancer, making her a widow for the second time.

Elsbeth then met Jacob Reis and continued her penchant for travel before he also died. Her daughters married in the 80's and her grandchildren, Kristian and Marianne, were born in 1980 and 1983, respectively. After Jacob's death, Elsbeth continued to travel with her daughters and with work friends visiting places like the Holy Land, Cuba, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Japan, China, and the North Cape.

After retiring from Fresno County, she went back to work part-time there, and later-up until age 96-volunteered at now Bristol Hospice, Fresno's VA Hospital, and the Rotary Club of Fresno. She was also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks for the past 18 years.

Her last years were spent at The Nazareth House in Fresno, and the family thanks them for their tender care.

Elsbeth was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings, Hans and Lina, and she is survived by her daughters, Isabel, and Susan (Dave), grandchildren Kristian and Marianne, and sister-in-law Maria.

Funeral services will be held at Wallin Funeral Home, 1524 9th Street in Sanger, with visitation at 9am, services at 10am, and internment at 11:15am. Remembrances can be sent by making a donation to the Elks National Foundation, 2750 N. Lakeview Avenue, Chicago, Ill. 60614.