Lawrene Thompson
Oct. 17, 1946-Jan. 12, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 14, 1952; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Miss Lawrene Thompson, five, of rural route six, died at 3 p.m. Saturday at Blodgett hospital, Grand Rapids, after an illness of 10 weeks.

Surviving are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Thompson, of rural route six; a grandmother, Mrs. Pansy Thompson, of Afton, Okla.; her grandfather, L.D. Cheney, of Niles, and a brother Larry, at home.

Lawrene was born on Oct. 17, 1946, in Welch, Okla., and came here about five years ago.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday by the Rev. Charles Johnson, pastor of the South Niles Pentecostal church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

William Henry Thurston
Dec. 18, 1938-July 27, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 28 1951; page 1, col. 8, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

First of year at Barron

The first drowning of the year in Barron lake occurred at 7 p.m. Friday night as a 12-year-old Niles boy died in front of Bartak’s resort.

The boy was William Henry Thurston, rural route two, the son of Thomas Thurston, of the same address, and Mrs. Mildred Cullons 712 Oak street.

No details of the boy’s death were known.  Niles state police said his father working at the resort, missed the boy about 6 p.m., but thought he was playing with other children.  A fisherman discovered his body in five feet of water in front of the resort.  Police said he had been under water about 20 minutes.

Howard township fireman worked over the boy with a resuscitator for more than an hour without success.  He was pronounced dead at 8:10 p.m.

The boy was born in Niles Dec. 18, 1938, and lived here all his life.  Surviving in addition to his parents, are a sister, Sally, and James; and grandparents Mr. and Mrs. William Thurston, of Buchanan, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Green, of Niles.

Friends may call at the Pifer (illegible) then the body will be taken to St. Paul’s Lutheran church, where the Rev. Theodore Laesch will conduct services at 2 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in Silverbrook.

William Troutfetter
Sept. 1, 1864-July 4, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 5, 1951; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

William Troutfetter, 619 Howard street, died at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in his home.  He had been ill for two years and four months.

Surviving are his widow, Louise, their children, Mrs. Everett Cal (illegible) three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, one brother, Edward Troutfetter, of Lawrence, and one sister, Mrs. Andrew Cashbaugh, of Michigan City, Ind.

Troutfetter, who was born on Sept. 1, 1864, in Niles, moved from here in his youth and returned from Jackson 11 years ago.  He was retired from the New York Central Railroad company where he worked as a road master. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church, the St. Joseph Valley (illegible).

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday by the Rev. T. M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

William N. Weaver
May 14, 1872-May 4, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 5, 1951; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

William N. Weaver, 78, of 122 Parkway, died at 6 p.m. Friday at his home after being ill for two years.

He was born May 14, 1872, in Greenville, O., and came here from Greenville 60 years ago.  Formerly with the Michigan Wire Goods company, he was a retired machinist.  He was a member of the First Evangelical United Brethren church here.

Surviving are his wife Eva B.; two sons, Lynn and Donald; and two daughters, Mrs. Amos Benjamin and Mrs. Edward Holmes, all of Niles.

Friends may call at the home after 7 p.m. today.  The Rev. G.A. Steeby, of the First EUB church will conduct services at the church at 2 p.m. Monday.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Myrtle Welling
March 12, 1881-April 13, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 14, 1951; page 2, col. 4, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Mrs. Myrtle Welling, 70, 1517 Maple street, died at 11:15 a.m. Friday in Mercy hospital at Benton Harbor. She had been ill nine years. Mrs. Welling was born in Niles, March 12, 1881, and has lived here all her life.

She leaves three daughters, Mrs. Earl Crawford, of Niles; Mrs. G. W. Adams, of Benton Harbor; Mrs. Marvin Harger, of Detroit; a son, William Welling, of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Charles Adams, of Niles; seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday.  The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Florence I. Bush, of Niles
May 2, 1938 — March 6, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:58am Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Florence I. Bush, 76, of Niles, Michigan died at 2:56 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2015, at her home following an extended illness.

Florence I. Bush

She was born on May 2, 1938, in Niles to Gerald and Harriet (Hargreaves) George. She was graduated from Niles High School, and lived here most of her life, moving to Edwardsburg, Michigan last year. She was first employed at the former Dor-a-Linn Nursing Home (now Riveridge Manor), then at the former Niles plant of Simplicity Pattern Company, and at Coachmen RV.

Florence was an active member of The Salvation Army in Niles, both Sunday mornings at church and during the week cleaning and mending donated items, and at the former Eastgate retail store of The Salvation Army. She was also an active member of the Ladies Auxiliary to American Legion Post #26, cleaning, ironing, and mending the Honor Guard uniforms.

She enjoyed completing crossword puzzles, and traveling – mostly for Veterans events and hospital visits, but her greatest joy was caring for her children and grandchildren. The extended family had no need of a babysitter as every parent knew that Florence was ready and willing to care for all of the children. Those parents also knew of Florence’s interest in cleaning and mending, and that their children would go home neater and cleaner than they came.

On May 29, 1959 in Roseland, Indiana she married Bernard D. “Bud” Bush with whom she celebrated the thirty-fifth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on May 12, 1995. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Brenda in 2010; by sisters Norma and Sandra, and by brothers, Gerald and Robert.

Surviving family includes her children, Star Nelson of Edwardsburg, Bernard “Ted” Bush of Niles, and Richard Bush of Mishawaka, Indiana; eight grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren; and Florence’s sisters, Beverly, Phyllis, Patricia, Dorothy, and Diana, and a brother, James and many nieces and nephews.

Services for Florence Bush will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at the graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles with Major William Walters and Major Tracy Walters of The Salvation in Niles and the Rev. Tedd Galloway of West Adrian (Michigan) Community Church and the Rev. Donna Galloway of Morenci (Michigan) United Methodist Church officiating.

Contributions in memory of Florence Bush may be made to the New Building Fund of The Salvation Army in Niles. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com