Mary Lou (Gowey) Gates, age 76, of Inver Grove Heights, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, at EdenBrook of Edina after a battle with dementia.

Mary Lou was born on April 2, 1949, in Marshfield, Wisconsin, where she grew up and graduated from Columbus High School in 1967. She later married Richard Franz Sr., and they made their home in Milwaukee, where they raised three children: Richard Jr., Michael, and Robin. During that time, she worked for many years as a data entry operator.

Later in life, she relocated to Minneapolis and married Clifford Gates. Together they had one child, Amy (Gates) Helgerson.  She went on to work as a computer programmer at National Business Systems, where she remained until retiring in 2013.

She enjoyed the simple things—playing bingo, reading, and spending time with family. But what she loved most was crocheting. She was always making something special and loved sharing it with others. She also worked alongside her sister Jane, donating handmade items through the Marshfield Clinic Crafters for a Cause.

One of her favorite sayings was, “I just love to go to the craft store and squeeze the yarn balls,” which pretty much says it all.

Mary Lou Gates was preceded in death by her parents, Hartlan and Ruth Gowey and her siblings Donna, Patricia, Joanne, and Orla.  She is survived by her siblings Jane (Dick) and Gene (Chris), her children Richard (Bonnie) Franz, Michael Franz, Robin Norris and Amy (Donald) Helgerson, her stepdaughter Karen (Ruvaldo) Perez, her grandchildren Michelle (Jarrod), Derrick, Tanya (Andrew), Madison (Jeff), Morgan (Zak), Mackenzie (Rob), Paige, Joshua, Chacey, Bryce, Jensen, and eight great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held on April 25 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., with a service at 11:00 a.m. at:

Cremation Society of Minnesota, St. Paul

1979 Old Hudson Road

St. Paul, MN 55119

Lunch will follow immediately after the service.

Following lunch, family will gather at:

Bloomington Cemetery

10340 Lyndale Avenue South

Bloomington, MN 55420