Lois Bates, age 99, of Huron died on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at SunQuest Healthcare Center in Huron. Her family is having a celebration of her life from 5-7 pm Friday, October 16, 2015 at The Stone Church in Huron with a burial at Riverside Cemetery at a later date. Lois Elaine Bates was born near Platte South Dakota on May 9, 1916. Parents were Jesse and Dorothy (Lubbert) Hartzer. Lois graduated top of her class in from Platte High School in 1934 and moved to Huron to attend Huron Collage where she graduated salutatorian with a Bachelor's of Science in 1938. She had a teaching certificate. While attending collage she worked at the Marvin Hughitt hotel and as a lifeguard at Ravine Lake. Lois married Herbert Christen November 23, 1940 in Elgin Illinois where Herbert was going to Watchmaking School and she worked at the Elgin Watch factory. In WWII, Herbert served as a Major in the Army. After the war they returned to Huron taking over Smith Jewelry. They bought a home here in 1946. Herb died June 24, 1965. Lois took over the store and was successful at it as she was with all her challenges. She loved the store and worked there filling in into her 80's. Lois married Earl Bates December 1971. During their marriage they lived in Egypt for a few years and had short stays in Indonesia and Bolivia. Lois lived at home until just days before she died. Lois's was very interested in animals. She raised dachshunds and showed competitively and won many awards for them. She was a horsewoman and rode into her 70's. She rescued many wild animals including a one winged hawk named Stanley as well as foxes, racoons, squirrels and more. She hatched butterflies and mounted them and was a bird watcher. She canned watermelon pickles. Sewing was her major interest. Lois was a Cub Scout leader and an active member of the South Dakota Quilters Guild and entered quilts in the state fair nearly every year winning many ribbons and awards. She was always an inspiration to quilters and was learning new techniques till the last. Mrs Bates lived in her home until the last few days of her life. Lois is survived by three sons Joseph "David" Christen of Spearfish, Leslie (Susan) Christen and James (Lhannie) Christen of Huron; six grandchildren Jesse (Barbara)Christen of Sioux Falls, Mia Pua of Henderson NV, Alexis Stinton of Watertown, Teresa Fortier of Massachusetts, Joy Christen of Minneapolis, Shane Christen of Huron and four great grandchildren, Arianne Fortier, Julia Fortier, Derek Taniguchi, Kainoa Pua; one brother, Marlowe (Mary) Hartzer of Texas; sereveral nieces and nephews. Lois was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands and a brother Laverne Hartzer.