Tom Bates, beloved husband of Nettie of Yorkton, passed away on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. He was 84 years of age. Thomas William Bates was born on March 27, 1933 at Theodore, SK; the eldest son of Raymond and Ann (nee Condon) Bates. He received his education at the Theodore School. Upon graduation from Grade 11 Tom ventured to northern Ontario where he drove Cat and logging trucks in the bush camps. Upon learning more money was to be made in mining, he went to work in a gold mine at Pickle Crow, ON in 1949. In 1951 Tom returned to Saskatchewan and began working for the Saskatchewan Power Corporation on construction crews out of Regina. He trained as a power lineman and after working all over the province, received his journeyman status. In 1954 he went to Estevan and later Watrous as crew foreman. In 1955 he became assistant district operator at Punnichy and then to Lucky Lake as district operator in 1956. In 1957 he was stationed at Glaslyn, in 1960 at Spiritwood and finally to Yorkton in 1968, where he remained until his retirement on December 31, 1983. Tom married Joy Sedgewick on December 21, 1951. The couple had five children: Patricia, Penny, Kevin, Brenda and Candace. Tom and Joy divorced in 1974. On October 5, 1976 Tom was united in marriage to Nettie Elaschuk and welcomed into the family Nettie's children, Sharon and Wayne. In April of 1984 Tom started a career in farming and trucking, which he loved very much. He hauled gravel for the RMs, villages, towns, for road builders and for farmers. Tom loved the farm where he let all the grandchildren drive the ½ ton truck, four wheel drive tractor, gravel truck, the quads and snow machines, all as long as they never left the farm. Tom loved his church, he was a devout member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and he enjoyed the fellowship of St. Andrew's Men's Club. He was also a very social individual, Tom enjoyed the company of others from all walks of life. His hobbies were hunting, fishing, travelling and farming, as he found all these pastimes much more enjoyable than work. Tom passed away on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. He was 84 years of age. Predeceased by Nettie's daughter Sharon Kishalowich and son Wayne Elaschuk. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Nettie; daughter Patricia Kingery of Nanaimo, BC; daughter Penny (Dave) Perpeluk of Nanaimo, BC; son Kevin (Kathy) Bates of Melville; daughter Brenda Anthony of Nanaimo, BC and daughter Candace (Matthew) MacLeod of Carberry, MB; Nettie's son-in-law Borden Kishalowich of Esterhazy and daughter-in-law Mary Anne Elaschuk of Warman, SK. Also 15 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; a brother Royce Bates of Edmonton and numerous other relatives and friends. Prayers were held on Wednesday evening, Feb. 21 and the funeral service was held on Thursday morning, Feb. 22, 2018, all from Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yorkton. Very Rev. Fr. Mel Slashinsky officiated. The Cantor, Yvonne Panchuk, led members of the Holy Transfiguration Church Choir in the singing of the responses. The cross bearer was Mary Anne Elaschuk. Members of the Order of St. Andrew attended and formed an Honour Guard. The interment took place in the Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Dean and Brent Kishalowich, Bret Sherstabitoff, Daniel and Kelly Perpeluk and Jolynn MacLeod serving as the casket bearers. Condolences can be left at baileysfuneralhome.com.
