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Charles E. Bennett
Charles E. Bennett, age 83, of Lansing, died Tuesday, March 8, 2005. He was born May 21, 1921 in Eaton Rapids, the son of Timothy and Mary (Martin) Bennett. Chuck served in the Army during World War II, stationed in Germany, France and South Africa. He retired in 1987 with 32 years of service from Dard Plumbing & Heating in Lansing as a Plumber, Welder and Pipefitter. He was a member of the Plumber & Pipefitters Local #333.
Surviving are his wife of 57 years Dorothy; 2 sons Edward (Anne) Bennett of Lansing and James (Kelly) Bennett of Eaton Rapids; daughter, Christine (Manny) Medeiros of Lansing; 3 grandchildren, Marcy Warner, Angela and Katelyn Bennett; brother, James (Carolyn) Bennett of Palmetto, FL and sister, Mary Alice (John) Kovac of Ashburn, GA; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were on March 12 from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Burial followed in the Brickyard Cemetery in Eaton Rapids.
Dorris Bennett
Dorris Ethel Bennett, of Lansing, formerly of Bellevue, died Dec. 1, 2005 at Grandhaven Living Center in Lansing.
She was born April 28, 1921 to Edmund R. and Ethel M. (Born) Fish in Clarendon Township. She graduated from Litchfield High School and Argubright Business College. Dorris worked as a bookkeeper for Bellevue schools for 22 years, retiring in 1987. She was a member of Bellevue United Methodist Church, the Lioness Club and the Michigan School Employee Retiree Association. She taught Sunday school and sang in the church choir.
She is survived by sons, Robert (Lynne) Bennett of Battle Creek, David (Marianne) Bennett of Grand Haven, James (Deborah Martens) Bennett of Mason; daughters, Barbara (Robert) Drake of Alexandria, VA, Colleen Drake of Lansing, Gail (John) Ostrowski of Battle Creek; 14 grandchildren and four great grandchildren; and sister, Ruth Lewis of Black Creek, N.Y.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and one sister.
Services were held Dec. 6 at Bellevue United Methodist Church, with Pastor Virginia Heller officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bellevue United Methodist Church or the Bellevue Memorial Scholarship Foundation.
Arrangements were by Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue.
Nancy L. Bennett
Nancy L. Bennett, 66, of Springport, formerly of Charlotte, died Thursday, March 24, 2005.
Mrs. Bennett was born May 16, 1938 in St. Johns, the daughter of Glen and Violet Irene (Hessick) Teed. Nancy was a Avon representative and she enjoyed dancing, music and was an animal lover. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary 2406.
She is survived by daughter, Kally Jo (Ronald) Stoye of Springport, Deborah (Michael) Brehm of Huntley, Ill.; son, Donald W. (Leslie) Bennett of Bellevue; and five grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her parents; and a brother, William Lay.
Funeral services were held March 28 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Pastor Jay Phelps officiating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Community Hospice. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Harold Benward
Harold Benward, 85, of Eaton Rapids, formerly of Albion, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005 at his home.
He was born April 16, 1920 in Scarboro, W.V., to Robert and Olga (Romm) Benward, Harold served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. On Oct. 25, 1947 he married Ruth Shannon; she survives. He worked for several years at Union Steel, Albion Malleable Iron and also Sherer Gillett in Marshall. After retiring, he was the facility supervisor at McDonald’s in Albion for 10 years. Harold was a member of Gospel Assembly Church in Lansing. He enjoyed gardening, cooking, hunting and fishing.
Survivors include: his wife, Ruth Benward of Eaton Rapids; daughter, Bonnie (Greg) Cox of Hampton, Va.; sons, Harold Jay (Sandy) Benward of Potterville and Philip James Benward of Eaton Rapids; sister, Laura B. (Ellery) Morgan of Albion; nine grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were two sisters, Marie and Zouie; and four brothers, Bob, Buddy, Eddie and Billy.
Funeral service was held Dec. 9 at J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home in Albion, with Rev. Gregory Cox and Daniel Benward officiating. Interment followed at Albion Memory Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice or the Parkinson’s Foundation.
William D. Berkompas
William D. Berkompas, 59, of Charlotte, died Sept. 10, 2005 as the result of an auto accident.
Mr. Berkompas was born Oct. 2, 1945 in Grand Rapids, the son of Erwin and Donna (Williams) Berkompas. He was an avid railroad enthusiast and artist. Mr. Berkompas had been retired from Consumers Energy after 36 years and was a member of Charlotte First Baptist church, Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, and the Charlotte Optimist Club. He also served in the U.S. Air Force and owned Technical Press Limited-Railroad Drawings.
Mr. Berkompas is survived by his wife, Dotti; daughter, Brenda (Dave) Tenison of Pittsburgh, Pa.; son, Phil (Jennifer) Berkompas of Charlotte; mother, Donna Berkompas of Grand Rapids; three grandchildren; Sarah and Brooke Tenison and Austin Berkompas; sisters, Cindy (Dave) Wolfert of Jenison and Peg (Sheldon) Wieland of Walker; sister-in-law, Kay McKim of Bad Axe; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sharon and Lee Swick of Clio; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Berkompas was preceded in death by his father, Erwin Berkompas, in 1988.
Funeral services were held Sept. 14 at charlotte First Baptist Church, with interment following at Maple Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Charlotte First Baptist Church or Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso.
Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Martha (Moore) Betz
Martha (Moore) Betz of Springport, passed away Friday, November 4, 2005 after a several year struggle with Alzheimer’s. Martha was born August 31, 1925, in Elnora, Indiana, the third of four children born to Orville Herman Moore and Enid Mae Williams. Martha graduated from Holt High School in 1942. She then attended County Normal in Mason to become a certified teacher. Martha’s County Normal class recently celebrated their 61st reunion. Martha married G. Chester Betz on August 17, 1947. Two sons were born to this union, Tom in 1948 and Robert in 1956. Martha earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Michigan State University in the mid-1960s. Martha taught school in one-room schools in the Aurelius area and near Albion. Martha taught in the Jackson Northwest Schools until retirement. Martha was active in Griffith United Methodist Church, UMW, Springport OES, Northwest Retired Teachers, and volunteered for Youth Haven Ranch. In OES, she was Worthy Matron, Grand Representative of Michigan, County Association President, and a Michigander member. In addition to her parents and husband, Martha is predeceased by sister Marcella Bell, brothers, Milton and Conroy Moore, daughter-in-law Linda Betz, grandson George Betz, and infant granddaughter Sheila Betz.
Martha’s survivors include her much-loved sons Tom of Springport and Roger (Alice) of Eaton Rapids. She was a warm and loving grandma to Tammie (Dan) Peterson; Loren (Kelly), William, and Randy Betz of Springport and Melanie and Christopher Betz of Eaton Rapids. She especially enjoyed her great grandchildren Lurah and Tommy Peterson and Zachery and Luke Betz. Martha is also survived by her brothers- and sisters-in-law Joyce Moore of Dimondale; Ethel Betz of Annapolis, Maryland; Lorna Blair of California; Roscoe and Ophelia Betz of Dallas, Texas; and, Neil and Janet Betz of Ragland, Alabama.
Martha will be greatly missed by all show knew and loved her. Visitation was held at the J. C. Adams Funeral Home, Springport Chapel on Monday, November 7, from 5 to 7 P.M. A memorial service will be held at Griffith United Methodist church, Springport, Today November 8, 2005 at 2:30 P.M. with Reverends Jack Fugate and Merlin Pratt officiating. An Eastern Star Memorial service will be held at the Griffith Church during the memorial service. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery. Her charities include Springport Are Foundation for Education and Griffith Church Building Fund.
Grover A. Bibler
Grover A. Bibler, age 60, of Springport, passed away Sunday, September 25, 2005 in Albion. Grover was born March 28, 1945 in Springport Twp., the son of Scott and Bertha (Taylor) Bibler. He was a retired co-owner of the Tip-Top Tree Service and formerly employed with Nelson Tree Service and Michigan Shade Tree. Grover enjoyed shooting pool (in two leagues), hunting, fishing, and was a big NASCAR fan. Grover was preceded in death by four brothers, John, Robert, Scott, and Billy; three sisters, Madge, Carol, and Doris.
Grover is survived by his wife of 36 years, Pauline Bibler; children, William “Willie” (Brenda) Campbell of Parma, Sandy (Tim) Bunker of Springport, Allen (Bernadine Scott) Bibler of Eaton Rapids, Grover Bibler, Jr. of TX, and Jackie Bibler of TX; 12 grandchildren; three sisters, Louise Linton of TX, Alice (Dusty) Rhoades of Pleasant Lake, Peg (Eugene) Hunter of Albion; sister-in-law, Kathleen Bibler of Eaton Rapids; several nieces & nephews; and partner and friend, Calbert England.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 28, 2005 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, 518 S. Main, Eaton Rapids, with interment following at Springport Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Grover Bibler Memorial Fund in his memory.
Ida E. Bickel
Ida E. (Lindsley) Bickel, 80, of Port Orange, Fla., formerly of Battle Creek and Springport (Narrow Lake), died Friday, Feb. 11, 2005 at the Hospice of Volusia-Flagler in Port Orange.
Mrs. Bickel was born in Aurelius, the daughter of Herman R. and Pearl (Manwarren) Lindsley.
Surviving is: son, Paul R. (Claudia) Bickel of Port Orange, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Merrill R. Bickel, in 1985; a son, Phillip E. Bickel, in 2000; and a half-brother, Harry W. Burch, in 1982.
Graveside services and interment were held Feb. 18 at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens Chapel, Battle Creek, with Paul Bickel officiating.
Arrangements were by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte.
