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Michael Bennett
Michael I. Bennett, age 55, passed away April 30, 2007 at Sparrow Hospital. Mike was born June 6, 1951 in Owosso, to the late Holly D. and Elinor (Martin) Bennett.
Mike retired from Fisher Body in 2000 after 30 years and became co-chair of Local 602 retirees beside Dorothy Stevens, because he enjoyed helping others. Mike was also very active in Olds Outdoors Club, taught hunters safety because he strongly believed in the hands-on teaching method. He was also a member of the Charlotte Optimist Club and past president of Morrice Lions Club. Mike enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping and just being outdoors. He was always there to help and never ask for anything in return. Mike lived life to the fullest and always said not to worry about the little things, just enjoy it.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cathy (Binkowski) Bennett; daughters and sons, Christopher, Kurt (Jill) and Makenzie, Mirsades, Mayse, Madison and Marisa; grandsons, Josh, Corey, Tristen, Nathan and Aleksander; sister, Vicky (James) Brewer; brothers, Dennis and James; parent-in-laws, Paul and Phyllis Binkowski; sister-in-law, Cindy Hiser and Paula Truax; brother-in-law, Keith Hiser; many cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews; special friends include, Dorothy Stevens, Dave and Tammy Duby, John Slee, Gary Hunt, Joe and Judy Williams.
Funeral services were held May 3, 2007 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Reverend Rich Mitterling officiating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to your charity of choice. Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Ruth Benward
Ruth Arlene Benward, 79, Eaton Rapids, passed away Monday, April 2, 2007 in Lansing. Ruth was born Feb. 15, 1928 in Albion, the daughter of Clarence and Violet (Thompson) Shannon.
An active member of her local church, Gospel Assembly, Ruth loved spending time with her grandchildren and enjoyed her daily social visits at McDonald's in Eaton Rapids.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Benward on Dec. 6, 2005; her son, Philip James Benward on Dec.14, 2005; and two brothers, Charles and Richard Shannon.
Ruth is survived by her daughter, Bonnie (Greg) Cox of Eaton Rapids; her son, Jay (Sandy) Benward of Potterville; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; her brother, David L. Shannon of Grand Rapids; four sisters, Dorothy Simmons of Reading, Leona Clougherty of Marshall, Leota Patton of Marshall, Mary Lou Lutz of Phoenix, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, April 5 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, 518 S. Main, Eaton Rapids. Graveside services followed at Albion Memorial Gardens, Albion.
Rhea Betcher
Rhea May Betcher, 78, died March 11, 2007. She was born May 1, 1926, the daughter of Charles and Christine Heath of Eaton Rapids.
She married Kenneth Betcher, who preceded her in death in 1959, and raised four children, Mike, Barbara, Mark and Kenny, who preceded her in death in 1992. Rhea always enjoyed time with Martin, Aunt Lois, Myrtle, Aunt Mary and Jim. She will be missed by her nieces and nephews and her grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Special thanks from her family to Aunt Mary Heath, Nina, Kathy, Church and Uncle Mart; to the Eaton Country Hospice and staff; the A.F.C. Country Comfort Home where she lived the last year; and thanks to Joe and Katie Betcher along with Terry Rhode, who with their help, care and love, helped so much to make Rhea’s last year filled with love.
Graveside services will be held April 21, 2007 at 11:15 a.m. at Felt Plains Cemetery. Immediately following service friends and family are welcomed to attend a luncheon at Felt Plains United Methodist Church, 3523 Meridian Rd., Leslie.
Pearl Bigger
Pearl E. Bigger, 85 of Charlotte, died July 3, 2007. She was born Aug. 21, 1921 in Blanchard, MI, the daughter of Loren and Effie (Ruthruff) Dickson. She married Vernon Robert Bigger on June 23, 1945. They spent 35 years together till his passing in 1980.
She was a past member of the Holiday Rambler Club Michigan Chapter Capital Totems pulling her trailer alone for 10 years after her husband’s death. Pearl was an active and willing volunteer where needed, and worked the community dinners at the Eagles where she had many friends.
She was a long time vender for Frontier Days having the same corner spot under the Big Oak Tree. No craft was impossible for her to make. Potluck carriers, baby bibs, toddler smocks, quilts, rugs, aprons, potholders and adult bibs. She also made doll quilts for the Charlotte Fire Department Christmas Kiddie program.
Other interests were her flower beds and playing cards every Friday with the “Phase 10” card group at Bonnie Brook. She loved playing Bingo and dancing to polka music.
She was known around town as the “Lady in the White Hat”.
She was preceded in death by one brother Rudy Dickson.
She is survived by her daughters, Karen (Roy) Rice, Alana (Mike) Root both of Charlotte; seven grandchildren, Kimberly (John) Stoffer, Angela, Shannon and Taebin Rice, Lynette (Brian) Larkins, Aaron and (Jaki) Root and SGT Sarah Beth Root; five great grandchildren, Johnny Stoffer, Jackson Root, Rachel and Emily Larkins and Courtney Chapman; brothers, Lorenzo (Juanita) Dickson, Orland Dickson; sisters, Carrie Gleason and Stella (Gerrit) VanHeck; sister in law, Rita Dickson; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on July 9 at Pray Funeral Home. Interment was at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Lansing.
Charles Bingham
Charles Dale Bingham, 83, of Charlotte, died Thursday, March 22, 2007. Mr. Bingham was born Dec. 15, 1923 in Charlotte, the son of Charles and Ina Bingham.
Mr. Bingham was a farmer and the owner of C. Dale Bingham Farm Supplies. He would do much of his own mechanical and design work.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Bingham in 2002; sisters, Leola Leonard, Lucy Leonard and Mary Leonard.
He is survived by his sons, Charles (Barb) Bingham of Bellevue and Michael (Delores) Bingham of Charlotte; four grandchildren, Michael J. Bingham, Christina (Luke) Ellsworth, Scott and Laura Bingham; sister-in-law, Norma Rice-Rodney; and brother-in-law, Fred Leonard.
Funeral services were held at 4:30 p.m. March 24 at Pray Funeral Home with Pastor Darold Hill officiating. Interment was at Clarence Center Cemetery in Clarence Township. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Hospice House.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Donald Blackwell
Donald Blackwell, age 80 of Eaton Rapids died Monday, August 13, 2007 at a Lansing hospital with family present. He was born September 12, 1926 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the son of Herbert and Alice (Hemiscey) Blackwell. After graduating from Eaton Rapids High School in 1944, he worked many years at Oldsmobile and as a mason tender, and retired in 1992 from LanDalet Manufacturing. Don enjoyed hunting, fishing reading, coin and plate collecting, and spending time with his family and friends. His mother and father, sister Jeannice Banks, brother Jim, and son Alan preceded him in death.
He is survived by his sister Jeannette of Buchanan, Michigan, sons Gayle (Marty) of Eaton Rapids and Don (Deb) of Battle Creek, grandchildren Steve (Julie) of DeWitt, Jeff of Missouri, Rob (JJ) of Virginia, Sara of Battle Creek, Jason (Kellie) of Lansing, Andy of Jackson, and Amy of California, as well as 6 great grandchildren (Alex, Rachel, Evan, Austin, Katelyn and Jenna) and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. There will be no funeral service. For those who so desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Rapids Public Library in memory of Donald Gene Blackwell.
Don A. Blick
Don A. Blick, 91, of Charlotte, died Friday, Nov. 23 at the Hayes Green Beach Hospital in Charlotte. Mr. Blick was born April 23, 1916 in Anna, Ill., the son of A. J. and Ora Belle (McLane) Blick and had been a Charlotte area resident for 80 years.
Don worked as a shoe repairman, was a farmer and worked in the Maintenance Dept. for the Charlotte Public Schools from where he retired.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Lulu M. (Aseltine) Blick and a grandson, Paul Blick.
Surviving are his daughter, Laurie (Jerry) Knight of Charlotte; his son, David Blick of Charlotte; four grandchildren, Nathan Knight, Michelle (fiancé, David Brannan) Knight, Barrett (Lissette) Blick and Aaron Blick and one great-grandson, Tristan Blick.
Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 26 at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte with Pastor Todd R. McLane of Faith Assembly of God officiating. Interment was at the Maple Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to go to the Lansing Teen Challenge, 510 W. Willow St., Lansing, Mich. 48906-4744.
Edward Bobcik
Edward Bobcik, 77, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully on Monday, Nov. 26 surrounded by his loving family after a heroic battle with a lengthy illness. He was born Nov. 18, 1930 in Carmel Township, Mich., the son of John and Helen (Harag) Bobcik.
Edward's kindness, compassion and love for others will always be an inspiration to all who knew him. He was devoted to farming his entire life, initially raising beef and dairy cattle then later switching to a cash crop operation. He took pride in practicing farmland preservation and conservation. He had also worked as a milk truck driver in the mid-1950s and worked as an electrician. He especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends and taking family trips. He also enjoyed making maple syrup with his family. Mr. Bobcik was a member of the Eaton County Farm Bureau and former Superintendent of the Millerburg Country School in the late 1950's. He enjoyed restoring old tractors, fishing in the pond and felt that anything worth doing was worth doing well.
He will lovingly be remembered by his wife of 53 years, Vivian; son, John (Connie) Bobcik; daughters, Karen Kieft and Linda Bobcik; grandchildren, James Bobcik and Jillian (Steven) Richardson; great-grandson, Ethan; sister, Lillian (John) Arnold of Delton; sister, Ilene (Tom) Wright of Belding and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law Brian Kieft.
Funeral services were Saturday, Dec. 1 at Pray Funeral Home with Reverend Becky Morrison officiating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery, Charlotte.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital or the Michigan FFA Alumni Scholarship Program. Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Mildred Bock
Mildred Bock, 102, of Charlotte, formerly of Ann Arbor, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007. Mrs. Bock was born Aug. 16, 1904 in Saline.
Mildred attended Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. She loved dancing with Fred, her husband of 58 years, was an avid bridge player and traveled extensively.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred, in 1985.
She is survived by her son, Dale of Springport; daughter, Judith (Rex) Corbitt of Ft. Myers, Florida; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Jan. 18 at Pray Funeral Home with Rev. Phil Hobson officiating. Interment was at Washtenong Mausoleum in Ann Arbor. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor or Eaton Community Hospice.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
