Michael Dean Bates

Michael D. Bates October 1, 1959 – May 20, 2025. Mike was born to Marilyn and Ernie Bates in Brush, Colorado. They lived on a ranch north of Genoa, Colorado until the family moved to Burlington, Colorado in 1967 where Ernie would run Link Trucking. Later the business would be sold to BLTI, and Ernie and Virgil Webb ran the business. Mike started school in Woodlin, Colorado a few years before the family moved to Burlington. When he started junior high in Burlington, he joined the school band learning to play drums. He had such a natural ability. When Mike got into high school, he excelled in the school band and stage band. He also got to go to Philadelphia with Drums Along The Rockies one summer. He also played drums in a dance band while in high school. He stayed quite busy with all the music and hauling cattle with his dad. In 1977, Mike met the love of his life, Linda Genthe. They were each other’s true love. After they both graduated high school, they were married November 22, 1980. They were blessed with their first child, a son, Kelly O’Brian, in March 1982. Nineteen years later, they were blessed with their tiny daughter in June 2001 while living in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Mike had they joy of proudly naming her ShaiLyn, Kelly chose Marie as her middle name. Mike passed away very suddenly during surgery at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center May 20, 2025, leaving behind his loving wife, Linda, son, Kelly, daughter, ShaiLyn, grandchildren, Nickolas Anthony, Patricia Audrea, and Wyatt O’Brian. He is also survived by his dad, Ernie and stepmother Carol, his brother Jack and Rene, his sister Jennifer and Michael Bragg along with many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.