March 29, 1884-October 22, 1954
William Saathoff, Prominent Businessman, Dies Today at 70
William Saathoff, 70, of 1319 Hickory street, veteran Niles dairy operator and businessman, died at 12:08 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital after a nine-week illness.
Owner and operator of United Dairies, he has been in the dairy business here since 1925.
Born March 29, 1884 at Walshville, Ill., he came here from Staunton, Ill. March 29 1925, and purchased the Forburger Dairy. The next year he purchased the Hunter Co. Dairy and operated them as City Dairy.
In 1949, he purchased the Niles Creamery and the consolidated firms became the United Dairies.
He was named a director of the First National Bank when it was re-organized in August, 1933. Saathoff was one of the founders of the Niles Credit Assn. which was formed in 1927 and has been member of the association's board of directors since that time.
He is a past president of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the South Bend Milk Council for many years.
Saathoff also is a past president of the local Lions Club and member of the St. Joseph Valley Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 4, White Shrine, Masonic Consistory, Eastern Star, Niles-Cass Shrine Club, Grand Rapids Shrine and Niles BPO Elks Lodge.
He married Lena Highlander in July, 1909. She died in November, 1949. He married Betty Mallot in July, 1950. She survives.
Other survivors are a son Arthur Saathoff, of Niles; two step-daughters, Mrs. Ted Bakeman of Fort Riley, Kan., and Mrs. Kenneth Krichner, Elkhart, Ind.; five grandchildren; three brothers, Walter Saathoff of Niles, Henry Saathoff, Litchfield, Ill. and George Saathoff, Monrovia, Calif., and one sister, Mrs. Everett Lowe of Litchfield, Ill.
[Illegible] services at 3 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Chruch. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Bearers will be employes of United Dairies.
(Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 22, 1954, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)