It is with tremendous sorrow that we announce the passing of Jean Margaret (Miller) Bateman into the hands of her loving Lord and Savior. A true angel on earth, Jean was always deeply loving and caring to those blessed to be in her life. She exuded tremendous positivity, ever-present kindness, quiet strength, and an unwavering faith.
She is survived by her loving husband of fifty-two years, Robert F. Bateman, her children, Elizabeth M. Byerlee and Robert M. Bateman, and her granddaughter, Abigail Grace Byerlee, who were the lights of her life. She was adored by her stepchildren, the late Glenn C. Bateman, Leanne M. Bateman, and Melissa L. Bateman, whom she loved as her own.
Jean was born on March 14, 1949 in Red Wing, Minnesota to Alvin and Lillian (Steffenhagen) Miller, the fifth of six children. She is preceded in death by her brothers, Dennis Miller and James Miller, and leaves behind her brother, Leonard Miller, and sisters, Ruth Dankers and Elaine Ahern. She grew up on her family’s farm in Red Wing and attended Red Wing High School. She graduated from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, as a Registered Nurse.
She married her beloved husband, Robert, on September 22, 1973. They moved from Minnesota to Rhode Island in 1973. They built their life and started their family together in Smithfield, where they have resided for over 50 years. She worked as a nurse in the hospital setting in both Minnesota and Rhode Island, with most of her nursing career spent at ENT and Allergy in Rhode Island, where she was lovingly known as “Momma Jean”, because of her compassionate and loving nature.
Jean was a woman of deep faith, endlessly trusting her Lord through all of her life. She, along with her husband, Robert, were founding members of Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greenville, Rhode Island. She served as the head of the Altar Guild and as a member of the Church Council. She was actively involved in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and the Women’s Group at church.
She most enjoyed time being surrounded by her family. She made celebrations truly special with her delicious cooking and thoughtful, personal gifts. She loved talking to family and friends and sending cards and letters to those she cared about. In her younger years, she was a talented seamstress, sewing her own wedding dress and clothing for herself and her children. Reading, cooking, baking, and Bible study were favorite pastimes. She enjoyed watching Disney movies, especially with her granddaughter. She was a loyal Patriots fan and enjoyed watching football with her husband each week.
All who were honored to know Jean were touched deeply by her genuinely loving, kind, and compassionate soul. Her family and friends are left with a tremendous void that will never be filled, but take comfort that the challenges she faced with her health so bravely and with such quiet, determined strength, are over and she is now at peace with her Lord. Our angel on earth is now an angel in heaven.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 from 4-6 pm at Anderson Winfield Funeral Home, 2 Church Street, Greenville RI 02828.
Her funeral will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 11:00 am at Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, 54 Cedar Swamp Road, Smithfield RI 02917.