Arlene Luetta Gates

Arlene L. Gates of Denison, Iowa, formerly of Schleswig, Iowa, Denver, Colorado, Spencer, Iowa and Worthington, Minnesota, died January 24, 2015, at the Denison Care Center in Denison, Iowa. At the time of her death she had been blessed with 86years, 8 months and 5 days. Arlene was born at Fedora, South Dakota, May 20, 1928, the daughter of Lloyd and Edith Thompson Gates. She and her sisters Joan Glackin, Joyce Loud and LaVonne Biekert sang professionally in their sister’s quartet (The Gates Sisters) in and around the southwest part of Minnesota and northwest part of Iowa. They had their own radio show on Worthington’s radio station, had their own TV show on KELO, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and appeared on WCCO in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They performed at weddings, church gatherings, civic groups, band concerts, dances, school functions, etc., etc. They were recognized for their singing talent by the TV Guide in one of their issues. The Worthington Daily Globe newspaper referred to them as “Worthington’s Golden Throated Quartet”! Arlene also wrote the scripts for the quartet. In addition, Arlene also did solo work in Denver, Colorado area churches and in Schleswig and Denison, Iowa She is survived by her sister Joan Glackin of Midland, Michigan, and 2 nieces and 2 nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband Wilbur (Will) Welch, her mother and father Edith and Lloyd Gates and her sisters Joyce Loud and LaVonne Biekert and 3 brothers-in-law. Per Arlene’s wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and no further services are planned.