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Esther Barker
Esther M. Barker, 99, of Kalamo Township, died Jan. 11, 1999 at home.
Mrs. Barker was born Jan. 27, 1900 in Wells County, Ind. the daughter of John and Mary (Perkins) Beckner. She moved to the Bellevue area with her family in 1913 and graduated from Bellevue High School in 1917 and from Eaton County Normal School in 1918. She taught several years in the Eaton and Barry County schools and attended Western Michigan Teachers College. She married Conrad Barker in April 1925. She was a member of the Bellevue United Methodist Church and Eaton County Retired School Personnel. She enjoyed reading and bible study. At the age of 90, she traveled to the Holy Land with the Bellevue United Methodist Church group and was baptized in the Jordan River, then she and her daughter and son-in-law traveled to Egypt and toured the pyramids.
She is survived by three daughters, Frances (Harry) Pease of Bellevue, Carolyn (Edward) Salisbury of Clinton Township and Ruth (Norman) Dane of Troy, Ohio; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Conrad, in 1984; one sister, Laura Swayzee; two brothers, Paul and Ira Beckner; and two grandsons.
Services were Jan. 13 at the Bellevue United Methodist Church with Pastor Mark Thompson officiating. Interment was at Hillside Cemetery, Kalamo Township. Arrangements were made by Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bellevue United Methodist Church, Bellevue Memorial Scholarship Foundation or Eaton Community Hospice.
Bengta Barnes
Bengta “Bea” Barnes, 88, of Battle Creek, formerly of Bellevue and Bradenton, Fla., died June 20, 1999 in Fountains Nursing Home in Crystal Lake, Ill.
Mrs. Barnes was born June 16, 1911, in Randers, Denmark to John and Catherine (Paulsen) Antenson and was a supervisor for 28 years for Michigan Bell Telephone Co. in Battle Creek. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and First United Methodist Church. She enjoyed her family, friends, dancing, doing jigsaw puzzles, playing cards and watching TV westerns. She married Edward Barnes Oct. 23, 1936.
She is survived by one son, Leslie Barnes of Crystal Lake, Ill.; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by husband, Edward in 1978; one son, Edward “Toby” in 1991; and three sisters, Anna, Johanna Martin and Betty Budd.
Graveside services were June 26 at the Riverside Cemetery, Bellevue, with the Rev. Darwin Kuhl officiating.
Ethel Bartlett
Ethel May Bartlett, 81, of Charlotte died Saturday, Jan. 16, 1999.
Mrs. Bartlett was born June 24, 1917 in Missouri the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Akley. She used to do a lot of bowling and sewing.
She is survived by three daughters, Shirley Bartlett of Charlotte, Dorothy (Duane) Winright of Eaton Rapids and Carol Ann (Dale) Garvie of Charlotte; three sons, Henry (Kathy) Bartlett of Lansing, Everett Bartlett of Florida, and Roy (Karole) of Charlotte; 20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Cecil Akley and Fred (Mary) Akley both of Arkansas; and a sister-in-law, Ella Akley of Arkansas.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William and grandsons, Aaron and Ronald.
Services were Jan. 18 at Pray Funeral Home with Chuck Jenson officiating. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte.
David Ralph “Pete” Basing
David Ralph “Pete” Basing, age 85, died Thursday, June 10, 1999 in Kalamazoo. Mr. Basing was born January 13, 1914 in Luzerne the son of Oscar and Vera Basing. He was a life long resident of Michigan and graduated from Eaton Rapids High School, Class of 1934. After trying his hand at farming for many years he became an autoworker and retired from GM in 1979 after 25 years of service. Pete was preceded in death by his first wife of nearly 30 years, Ardis M. (Wilson) Basing and his second wife of over 20 years, Lois R. (Juenker) Basing.
Surviving are his 5 children with is wife Ardis, Mary Kopp of Colorado, Ralph (Tamara) Basing of Florida, Paul (Claudia) Basing of Kalamazoo, Terry (Lisa) Basing of Eaton Rapids, Susan (Tom) Buffham of Grand Rapids as well as 14 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; brother, Claude (Ann) Basing of Eaton Rapids; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Monday, June 14 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids, with Rev. Dennis Perkins of the Eaton Rapids Wesleyan Church officiating. Interment followed at Rosehill Cemetery. Those desiring may make contributions to the Lansing City Rescue Mission in memory of Ralph Basing.
LaVerne Beaver
LaVerne Beaver, 77, of Bitely, formerly of Rockford, died Dec. 18, 1999.
Mr. Beaver was born March 23, 1922 in Port Huron, the son of James and Julia (Griffen) Beaver. He served in the Army during World War II and had been a self-employed painter.
He is survived by one daughter, Jeanne (Louis) Kulpa; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; one sister, Earlene Boehm of Port Huron; one brother, Norman Beaver of Kalamazoo; and several nephews and nieces.
Services were Dec. 22 at the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with the Rev. Rich Mitterling officiating. Interment was in the Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta.
Ellen Elizabeth Bellows
Ellen Elizabeth Bellows, age 80, of Eaton Rapids passed away March 15, 1999. She was born February 24, 1919 in Mason the second of four children born to Porter and Bertha (Easterday) Field. She graduated from Mason High School and went on to study general business at Eastern Michigan Business College. She retired in 1982 from the State of Michigan, Department of State Police. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Bernard. Ellen spent many years on the family’s centennial dairy farm where she and Bernard raised their three children. Ellen was an active and accomplished participant in a wide range of sports, particularly in regards to bowling, winning numerous area championships.
She will be remember in the hearts of her children, Walter (Kayleen) Bellows of Eaton Rapids, Carol (Eldon) Wright of Charlotte, and Nick (Patricia) Bellows of Okemos. Her memory will also live on with her seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren as they reflect on warm summer days in Grandma’s berry patch and garden. Also surviving are her sisters, Mary Jane (Don) Hadwin and Billie Mac (Jim) Somers along with numerous nephews and nieces.
Memorial services will be held on Thursday, March 18th at 1 p.m. from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids with the Rev. Tom Evans of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Burial of cremains will follow in the Munger Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, a memorial contribution may be made to the American Cancer Society or to a charity of one’s choice in memory of Ellen E. Bellows.
R. L. Bergman
R. L. (Bob) Bergman, 67, of Lansing, passed away on Sunday, April 18, 1999. A veteran of Korea, he was owner and operator of R. L. Bergman Refrigeration for 31 years and a member of Plumbers & Pipe Fitters Local 388 for over thirty years. He had a great love for the out-of-doors, hunting, fishing, and his garden, and will be missed riding his 1917 Harley Davidson Motorcycle with a sidecar and his dog.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Nick in January 1997, and Michael Bergman in July 1997; parents, Lennie and Gladys Bergman; sister, Clarys Elaine in 1942. He is survived by daughter, Catherine (Don) Martin; son, Will (Molly E.) Bergman; grandchildren, Bryan Scott and Hannah Elsie Bergman; daughter-in-law, Lauri Bergman; special friend, and mother of his children, Carolynne Bergman; sisters, Floral Wheeler, Bethal Bergman, Grace (Elmer) Aseltine; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 22, 1999 at Chapel in the Pines Funeral Home, with Pastor Arthur Salisbury of Waverly Church of the Nazarene officiating. Interment was held at Oakridge Cemetery, Marshall. Military honors provided by V.F.W. Post 6132 Lansing. Contributions may be made to Sparrow Home Care Hospice or V.F.W. Home in Eaton Rapids.
Allie Berryhill
Allie Junior Berryhill, 71, of Haslett, died Saturday evening, Dec. 12, 1998, at a Lansing nursing home following a long illness. Mr. Berryhill was born Jan. 14, 1927 in Mt. Pleasant, the son of Allie and Fanny (Jones) Berryhill. He was a retired Oldsmobile employee, member of UAW #652, former member of the Moose, and a life member of VFW Post 701. He served in the Army during World War II. Mr. Berryhill was preceded in death by two brothers, Stanley and Rueben “Dick” Berryhill.
Surviving are seven brothers and sisters, Ruby (Frank) Skupien of Treasure Island, Fla., Virginia Kurnat of Greenville, Bonnie (Rex) Harrington of Lansing, Patsy (Ted) Stone of Sheridan, Katherine Delano of Duarte, CA, Chester (Shirley) Wordon of Potterville and Thomas (Norma) Moore of Fowlerville; numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were conducted Wednesday, Dec. 23 at Riverside Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant with Rev. Mark Erbes officiating. Arrangements were handled by Field & Leik Funeral Home, Dimondale.
Charles Betz
Charles Leo Betz, 76, of Vermontville, died Feb. 14, 1999 at his residence.
Mr. Betz was born in Eaton County the son of Leon and Mary Betz. His occupation was machine repair for Bradford-White Manufacturing Co. for 12 years, formerly he was employed at Oliver in Battle Creek, Diamond Reo in Lansing, and farmed his own farm.
He is survived by his wife, Irene; daughter, Barbara Betz of Chesterton, Ind.; two sons, Rodney Betz of Vermontville and Timothy Betz of Nashville; two granddaughters; brother, James Betz of Charlotte; and sister-in-law, Shirley (Roy) Tillery.
Services were held Feb. 17 at Pray Funeral Home with the Rev. George Fleming officiating. Interment was at Hillside Cemetery.
