Obituary--Nellie Jane Sparks Bateman, 92, passed away at the home of a daughter in Montpelier, of causes incident to age. She was born March 27, 1916, in Dingle, Idaho, a daughter of John Henry Stewart Sparks and Helen Charlotta (Dot) Wilcox. Nell grew up in Dingle with lots of family.
She loved to spend time with her sisters playing cards and she loved her Cokeville cousins. She attended school in Dingle, Paris, and Montpelier. She married Marshall Bateman on May 30, 1933, in Soda Springs, Idaho. The marriage was later solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple. He passed away on Nov. 23, 2000.
Nell learned young to work hard: cooking, scrubbing, gardening, washing and ironing.
Nell was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints and worked with the scouts in Primary. She was also a member of the Lady Trainman organization and was the last living member of the Bear Lake group. She also belonged to sewing clubs, and card clubs. She enjoyed embroidering and crocheting, crossword puzzles, quilting and playing the piano and guitar. She also loved to go camping with her husband and playing with her grandchildren.
Nell is survived by 5 children, Dr. Michael and Renee Bateman of Pocatello, Gloria and Gayle Holt of West Valley City, Utah, Terry Bateman and Karlene Craig of Las Vegas, Nev., Rhonda and Woody Dowding, and Marsha and Roger Passey, both of Montpelier; 14 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and 7 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 11:30 a.m. in the Montpelier 4th Ward Chapel, where friends may visit with family that morning from 10 a.m. until 11:15 am. The interment will be in the Montpelier Cemetery, with services under the direction of Matthews Mortuary of Montpelier.