- Date Of Birth: June 27, 1919
- Date Of Death: December 4, 2006
- State: Minnesota
Joe Alvin Gates of Roseau passed away on December 4, 2006 at the Roseau Area Hospital. He was 87 years old.
Joe Gates, the son of Bertha (Brown) and Joe Alvin Gates was born on June 27, 1919 in Alexander, Missouri. He grew up in Odessa, MO and the surrounding area. After he completed his education in Odessa he worked for 1 A years as a mechanics helper. He married Hope Castillo in 1940. He was then drafted into the military in 1940 and served in the United States Army for five years, being discharged in 1945. He served in North Africa and Europe during WWII.
Joe then worked at Navajo Butane Co. in Albuquerque, NM where his boss helped him start his own business. Joe and Hope operated that business for 17 years until they sold it in 1964. Joe also served as deputy Sheriff from 1957-1959. He was Chief of Police for Socorro county from 1961-1964. Joe then bought a ten section ranch North of Socorro and ran 45 head of polled Herefords. He also owned a rock quarry and sold stone for landscaping and building. Joe the drove truck for several years, and also built a service station where he had three service bays. It was a very unique building, built out of Stone from his rock quarry. In the fall of 1969 he went to work for Samon’s Trucking out of Missoula, Montana. He later worked for North Star Trucking, and then Wedul out of Thief River Falls. He trucked for over 20 years.
He married Velma Hulst August 19, 1977 in South Dakota and they moved to Wannaska and bought a farm. They later moved to Salol and in their later years they moved to Roseau. He has been in Sheltering Oaks Nursing Home for the past 2 A½ years and Velma is still living in their home.
Joe had many hobbies and interests including woodworking, collecting rocks, craftwork, plastic canvassing and needlepoint. He was a very patient man, who loved to read western books and keep informed about current events and politics. Joe had a love for animals, and had a very special dog Charlie. He also enjoyed cats and horses. He and Velma went south several years during the winter months.
His parents, his sister, Flava and his granddaughter, Camille, preceded Joe in death.
Survivors include his wife, Velma Hulst-Gates of Roseau; his two daughters, Jeanette Hackney David Valentich of Ridgeway, CO, and Carol Smith of Magdalena, NM; his sister, Loretta; two nieces, one nephew; ten step children, Roger (Betty) Hulst of Salol; Joile (Joyce) Hulst of Roseau; Juneal (Jack) Whitchard of Winter Haven. FL; Russell Hulst of Roseau; Lucy (Jon) Heggedal of Badger; Dudley (Judy) Hulst of Crookston; Robbie (Cindy) Hulst of Crookston; Wyann (Robert) Perry of Wadena, MN; Dayton (Becky) Hulst of Moorhead, MN; Troy (Darci) Hulst of Roseau; 23 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.
