Cynthia Ann Yates
December 12-1941 to April 24-2024, age 82
Cindy was born December 12, 1941 in Worthington, MN, to Ronald (Ronnie) James
Yates and Geraldine (Gerry) Camille (Wangsness) Yates. She was the first child born to Ronnie and Gerry, and the first grandchild born to Will and Coral Yates, of Bigelow, MN, and to Melvin and Mildred Wangsness, of Garretson, SD. At her birth, she also became the great-great grandchild of Martha Babcock, and the great-grandchild of Harriet Carney, who were both then living, representing the fifth living generation of that family. At a young age she had 4 living grandparents, 4 living great grandparents, and 1 living great-great grandparent (but, she always maintained that she was never spoiled by having so many grandparents.)
She lived with her parents on the Yates family farm in Iowa (Bigelow, MN, was on the Minnesota/Iowa state line), where her father had his prize dairy herd. Her mother was then a teacher at the Bigelow public high school. After a year, the family moved to Garretson, SD, where her mother’s family owned a general store, the Wangsness Store, started by M. H. Wangsness, an early South Dakota pioneer, and one of the founders of Garretson.
Cindy attended the Garretson Public School. The family became members of Zion Lutheran Church (Norwegian Lutheran) in Garretson. Her great-grandfather, M. H. Wangsness had been the Klokker (Norwegian for church elder/deacon) who, before the church’s acquisition of an organ or piano, led the congregation in hymn singing by finding the pitch with a tuning fork, and leading the singing a capella. The family church music tradition was carried on by her grandfather, Melvin, who had attended St. Olaf College and sung in the first St. Olaf College Choir, and who formed a male men’s quartet with a cousin and 2 family friends; an Aunt who was the church organist; and a cousin who was the church choir director. In high school, Cindy formed her own women’s quartet with 3 close friends and became the “Sugartones.” The Sugartones won a talent contest sponsored by Lawrence Welk, performed at a supper club at Lake Okoboji in northwest Iowa, and recorded advertising jingles for a radio station in Sioux Falls, SD. Cindy also played clarinet in the school and 4H bands. As a senior, she was awarded a music instrumental scholarship to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. After she graduated high school in 1959, she chose instead to attend St. Olaf college, the alma mater of her grandfather and of numerous other family members. As a freshman, she auditioned for the St. Olaf Choir and joined the world-renowned ensemble as a sophomore.
After graduation in 1963, Cindy became the vocal music director at Glencoe, MN, high school, where she taught music theory and appreciation, and directed all junior and senior high school vocal ensembles and music theater. She also served on the Minnesota High School Music Directors Association, directed regional high school festival concerts, and took her high school choir on regional tours.
Cindy retired from public school teaching in 1984 because she became disabled with lupus. She and fellow long-time Glencoe teacher, Mardelle Shager, moved to Burnsville, MN. At Burnsville, Cindy continued serving on numerous church and community committees.
Cindy and Mardie moved to Arizona City in 2000 to assist Cindy’s mother, Gerry Yates, in the operation of Sunland Visitor Center in Toltec, AZ. Cindy became Executive Director of the Visitor Center, and became instrumental in the Center’s acquisition and restoration of the historic Toltec School. The Center became one of only five visitor centers in Arizona to become accredited and recognized by the AZ Department of Tourism. The City of Eloy acquired the Center and continues to develop and operate the Visitor Center, museum, and historic school property.
Cindy retired the second time, and in 2022 moved to Tucson, where she and her two brothers, Jim and Bob, combined their households to spend time enjoying and touring southern AZ and travel. They just returned from a trip to London and Norway, when Cindy became ill again with lupus. After hospitalization, she was admitted to Casa de la Luz Hospice in Tucson, where she died peacefully in her sleep on April 24, 2024.
Preceding her in death were her parents, and her younger sister Margaret (Peg) Snesrud. At her request, no memorial services are planned for Cindy at this time. Memorial donations may be given in Cindy’s name to Casa de la Luz Hospice at the Hacienda, 2270 East River Road, Building 6, Tucson, AZ 85718.
