Marcella I. “Sally” Bateman, passed away Jan. 4, 2023, at Clara Barton Hospital, in Hoisington, Kan., at the age of 93. Sally was born Sept. 20, 1929, to Reuben and Alma Peterson of rural Shenandoah, Iowa. On Sept. 19, 1948 she married Charles Bateman, Jr. of rural Farragut, Iowa (he passed away March 7, 1975). She soon found her life’s work—raising kids, starting in 1949 with Jim, then Bill, then Kelley, then Joe, and—whoa, surprise!--Karen in 1969. She married Les Witmer in 1979 and they were later divorced. By 1979 she was starting on the grandkids—17 of them when all was said and done. The 12 great-grandkids move too fast for most of us to count, but Grandma Sally could, and she knew their birthdays, too! She enjoyed baking pies and cinnamon rolls, as well as making quilts for many charities, including Lutheran World Relief. 

Sally and Charlie in 1969 moved from the farm near Shenandoah to Atlantic, Iowa, where Sally lived and was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. She then started moving around to follow kids (and then grandkids) to Kansas. First, to Lawrence where she was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and then to Great Bend in 2005, where she was member of St. Mark Lutheran Church and the Great Bend Senior Center. She returns now to her final resting place next to Charlie in Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah.

Survivors include, her younger brother, Reynold Peterson of Madison, Wisc.; her children, son Jim and wife Susan Bateman and daughter Kelley and husband Dave Witmer all of Lawrence, son Joe and wife Christina of Atlantic, Iowa, and daughter Karen and husband Scott Reddig of Great Bend; plus the grandkids, Tim, Mike, Nick, Brad, Andy, Sam, Joey, Max, Noah, Jace, Tegan, Taylor, Kelsey, and Ashley; and the 12 great-grandkids. Also surviving are her nieces and nephews, Nancy, Dan, David, and Kristen; and several great nieces and nephews. Sally was preceded in death by her parents; older brother, Donald Peterson; husband, Charlie Bateman; a son, Bill Bateman; and granddaughters, Faith, Belle and Reese.

Visitation will be held from noon to 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, Kan. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 406 E Pioneer Ave., Shenandoah, IA 51601, with Pastor Kurt Hoover presiding. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Shenandoah, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been designated to the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS.  67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 6, 2023