Ella Mae Briggs, 89, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, at her son’s home in Buffalo City.

Ella Mae Bates was born on Aug. 29, 1930, to William and Harriet (Simmons) Bates in Lansing Township, Minnesota.

Ella was a faithful Christian and a tireless homemaker. She was a talented artist with many hobbies and enjoyed painting and ceramics the most, the latter becoming her in-home business – Ella’s Ceramics. She also worked alongside her husband Roger, “picking eggs” and raising chickens as they worked several more years after Roger retired from Hormel. After Roger passed away, Ella delivered newspapers for many years. She loved to dance in her younger years; Ella and Roger could be found dancing at the local clubs almost every Saturday night. She always seemed to be smiling and loved to laugh out loud. She loved to play cards with her best friends and to go to Bingo on Friday nights.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roger; sisters, Ella (Babe), Marie (Pudge) and Edna (Hazel); and brothers, Marvin, Elvin and Glen. Ella Mae is survived by her son, Terry (Mary Lou) Briggs, Buffalo City; grandchildren, Amanda (Brian) Lacey, Buffalo City, Kory Joe (Rose) Briggs, Austin, and Katie Mae Briggs, Buffalo City; great-grandchildren, Brenden, Addyson, Emelia, Vada, Bella Mae, David and Olivia; brother, Wayne (Lois) Bates, Austin; sister-in-law, Joyce Bates, Austin; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Donna Dempewolf officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Creek Enterprise Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary and will continue for one hour before the service on Saturday at the church.