Rodney Coates

Rodney Roy Coates, son of Elroy D. and Dorothy E. (Saice) Coates, was born July 10, 1943 in White Earth, Minnesota. He grew up in the Mahnomen, MN and Graceville, MN areas. He graduated from Mahnomen High School and continued his education at the Willmar Technical College in the Diesel Mechanic Course. On May 16, 1961, he was united in marriage to Carol Baxter in Sisseton, South Dakota. Ron lived and worked in many places around the country. He was a member of the White Earth Band of Chippewa. He enjoyed going to auction sales and going fishing and hunting in his younger years.



Ron died on Sunday, March 9, 2008 at the Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris, MN, having lived to reach the age of 64 years.



He is survived by four children: Ronnie (Cathy) Coates of Hancock, Carmen (Raleigh) McFarland of Duluth, Lisa Bojado of Blaine and Tracy (Paul) Navetta of Long Beach, CA; 12 grandchildren: Randy, Gina, Aaron, Sydney, Ryan, Samantha, Genevieve, Jamie, Paul, Nicholas, Tyler and Ryan; two great-grandchildren: Kiera and Carlos; one sister: Joyce Kutzler of Clinton and special friend: Judy Anderson of Starbuck. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister: Delores Wilmes; one brother: Alan Coates and brother-in-law: Roland Kutzler.



Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.