Almon Michael Bate, 63, of Roy, Utah, returned to the Savior’s arms on March 31, 2021. He died of natural causes while snowmobiling with his eldest son near the Peter Sinks area in Logan, Utah.
Michael was born on June 28, 1957 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Almon Junior and Roseann (Thompson) Bate. The Bate family moved across the country several times due to his father’s career. When the Bate family lived in Ohio as a young boy, they rented a house on an 80-acre farm. Michael often went for walks with his siblings in the stream near their home. His sister Cynthia said it was here that Michael developed his love for nature. The children often spent hours exploring the forest and didn’t come home until dinner.
When Michael was in 7th grade, his family moved to New Jersey and Michael had a paper route to make some money. He often asked his sister Pamela to go with him on pickup day, and he gave her an ice cream at Dairy Queen’s. His kind heart and his love to serve others were qualities that he exemplified throughout his life. During his school days, the Bate family lived in Walnut Creek, California. He was often found hiking, camping, snowmobiling with his family, and working on cars, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles.
Michael served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Canada Mission in Vancouver. He often spoke of his love for the people he served there and the beauty of the area.
Michael met his beloved and eternal companion, Debra Gale, when their older siblings, Cynthia Bate and Craig Gale, married. Debbie remembered Michael sending a beautifully handwritten note asking her out on a date. They were married on June 27, 1979 in the Logan Utah Temple. After moving several times, they settled in Ogden, Utah with their three boys Micah, Almon John and Jared when Michael accepted a job with the IRS as a printing specialist in 1985.
He was actively involved as a leader in the Boy Scout program while his boys were growing up and was instrumental in ensuring that each of them received their Eagle Scout Award.
Michael and Debbie later added two girls to their family, Michelle and Alyson, and they raised their five children in their Ogden home. In 2017, they sold their 23-year-old home and moved to Roy, Utah.
During their 41-year marriage, Michael was always aware that he was doing the little things to support his beautiful wife, so that she would feel loved. Not only did he wait for special occasions to give her presents or flowers, and he often remembered fetching her a favorite treat while running errands.
He could often be found in the kitchen wearing an apron, creating delicious meals and desserts for his family. Its peanut brittle and fudge were legendary vacation favorites.
Michael was known as an electric storyteller. He could paint a picture so clear in your head that you would think you were there and experienced it for yourself. He was the king of telling jokes and his sly smile and wink would let anyone down and he would laugh right with you.
Every year Michael took his family on trips to various national and state parks. He was an avid nature lover and loved camping and hiking with his children and grandchildren. He encouraged his family to learn about the world around them and thought it was great that his children and grandchildren were actively participating in junior ranger programs at every park he took them to. In 2019 Michael was happy to finally have reached the age to receive his lifelong National Park Pass.
Michael’s grandchildren knew he would always have a bag of change for them when they saw him. One Christmas he bought each grandson their own piggy bank so they could keep their money somewhere. He often brought a small bag of coins with him when he visited and asked the grandchildren to run and get their banks so they could add up the coins. He never missed an opportunity to teach and nurture the love of learning, no matter how young the grandchildren were.
The Bate family would like to express their sincere thanks to the Cache County Sheriff’s Department, Search and Rescue, AirMed, and all other rescue workers who responded so quickly when Michael died.
Michael is survived by his wife Debra (Gale) Bate; his children Micah (Cassidy) Bate, Layton, UT; Almon John (Kimberly) Bate, Odenton, MD; Jared (Jenna) Bate, Roy, UT; Michelle (Kaleb) Ashby, Washington Terrace, UT; and Alyson Bate, Roy, UT; eight grandchildren, McKenzie, Madison, Levi, Joshua, Hyrum, Matthew, Garrick and Richard, with two more on the way; and siblings, Cynthia (Craig) Gale, Almon Paul (Kim) Bate, Pamela (Steve) Maughan, and Almon Peter (Sarah) Bate. He was preceded in death by his parents, Almon Junior and Roseann (Thompson) Bate; his brother Almon David Bate; and his two grandsons Bryan and Isaiah Bate.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Ogden Mortuary, Lindquist, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends and family can visit the morgue on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Burial, Lindquists Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Humanitarian Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Published by Lindquist Mortuary – Ogden April 10-11, 2021.
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