Jeanette "Shorty" Joyce Bateman

Jeanette “Shorty” Joyce Bateman, 90, went quietly and peacefully to Heaven, on September 6, 2021.

A celebration of Jeanette’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, September 17, 2021, at Crosswinds Community Church of the Nazarene in New Salem. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Those unable to attend in person are invited to join the live-stream on the Stevenson Funeral Home website under Jeanette’s obituary at stevensonfuneralhome.com.

Jeanette Joyce Werchau was born on April 27, 1931, on the family farm south of Judson, ND. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Evangelical Church. Jeanette attended New Salem High School and graduated in 1949. During her sophomore year of high school, a handsome young man named Robert “Bobby” Bateman asked her out. During their first date, he couldn’t remember her name so he called her “Shorty,” a nickname that she would be known by for the rest of her life.

Bob and Shorty were married at the Peace Church, in New Salem, on June 30, 1950, and just recently celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary. Jeanette worked hard her whole life. Her life on the family farm was filled with milking cows, gardening, raising their four children and being a foster parent to many more children.

After Bob and Shorty moved to town, Shorty worked at Elm Crest Manor for many years in house keeping and in the kitchen. She enjoyed sewing, mending and baking, especially making cookies for the grandchildren. She helped with 4-H and sang in the church choir. She and Bobby took pride in keeping up their beautiful yard until they moved into an assisted living apartment at Elm Crest Manor.

She is survived by her loving husband of 71 years, Robert “Bobby” Bateman of New Salem. Children: Peggy (Gerald) Sprenger, Rocky (Nancy Jo) Bateman, and Dale Bateman, all of New Salem; and Dawn Bustos of Mandan. Ten Grandchildren: Jared (Katina) Sprenger, Kimberly (Kent) Neideffer, Jessie (John) Pfaff, Ashley (Kyle) Abrahamson, Libby Bateman, Travis Bateman, Ty (Emma) Bateman, Marisa Martinez deSilva, Elizabeth Martinez and Christopher Bustos. Eight Great Grandchildren: Jace Sprenger; Cort Pfaff; Bridger, Emariee and Gunnar Bateman; Tomas and Mateo Silva; and Olivia Verdeja.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Felix and Flora Werchau, a baby brother, Jack, who lived 18 days, a stillborn baby sister Peggy, and two sets of premature twin brothers. All siblings died due to an RH blood factor.