William "Bill" Bates, age 72 of New Ulm passed away Monday, November 29, 2021 at the New Ulm Medical Center.

Memorial Service will be 11:00 am Friday, December 3 ^rd , 2021 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – SOUTH Chapel. Pastor Nathan Scharf will be officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

He is survived by his wife, Julie Bates; sons, Aaron (Linda) Bates, Benjamin (Heidi) Bates and grandchild, Jordan Bates; his sister, Dorothy Pressler and his brother, Charles Bates.

He is preceded by his parents; brother, Arthur Bates and sister, Barbara Thomas.

William Kenneth Bates was born April 20, 1949 to Kenneth and Edna (Sievers) Bates in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. William married Julie Heldt on May 17, 1980 in Montevideo. He worked as a truck driver most of his life. He was a member of the Concord Singers. William enjoyed wood carving, yodeling and tinkering with electronics. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Blessed be his memory.