Ruth K. Griffith
April 12, 1909-Dec. 17, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 17, 1998, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Ruth K. Griffith, 89, 509 South Fifth Street, Niles, will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church, Niles.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Griffith died at 3 a.m. this morning at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, following a brief illness. She was born April 12, 1909, in Niles and had lived here all of her life.

On June 22, 1929, in Niles, she married Murrel A. Griffith, who preceded her in death on Jan. 14, 1952. She was employed at United Dairy, Niles, until it closed.

Mrs. Griffith was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She graduated from Niles High School. Mrs. Griffith was a very active senior as a member of the Golden Age Club of the YMCA, serving on the Board of the Niles Senior Center, and was on the Citizens Advisory Council of Dial-A-Ride.  She enjoyed crafts and gardening. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Jessie Behm on July 12, 1997. Surviving family includes two sons, Robert L. Griffith and Larry L. Griffith of Niles; a sister, Wilma Atkins of Niles; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.  Friends may call from 2 to 4  and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles Senior Center.

Mya S. Ford
Nov. 9, 1998-Nov. 9, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 12, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Graveside services for Mya S. Ford, 1819 N. 5th Street, Niles, were today at 1 p.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, by the Rev. W.L. Daniel, Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

She died Monday at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, two hours after birth.

She was preceded in death by a sister Antoinette King, in 1991.

Surviving family includes her parents, Herbert M. Ford, Jr., and Marva Ford of Niles; paternal grandparents Kathryn Robinson of St. Louis, Mo., and Herbert M. Ford of St. Louis; a sister, Myshell Marie Ford of St. Louis; and a brother, Lorenzo Coben of Niles.

Howard Beardslee
Dec. 7, 1912-Dec. 7, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 8, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Howard Beardslee, 85, 1512 Rolling Hills, Niles, will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles.

Burial will follow at Silverbroook Cemetery, Niles.

Beardslee died Sunday at 4:44 p.m. at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, of natural causes.

He was born Dec. 7, 1912.

On May 9, 1937, in Lansing, he married the former Margaret Conrad, who survives.

Beardslee was formerly a pressman at Simplicity Pattern Co., Niles, retiring in 1977.

He was a member of Community Grange no. 1675--Sumnerville, Pomona Grange no. 4, Michigan State Grange and National Grange.

Beardslee was a life member of Buchanan Lodge no. 8 F and AM, a member of Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite-Valley of Grand Rapids, Saladin Temple A.A. O.N.M.S. of Grand Rapids and an honorary member of Orak Temple, South Bend, Ind.

He also was a former member of the Simplicity Pattern Co. Band.

Beardslee was a member of St. John's United Chruch of Christ,  Niles.

Also surviving are two daughters, Kathryn Proff of Eagan, Minn. and Mary Ruth Gilmore of Coal Valley, Ill.; two borthers, Richard L. Beardslee of Cassopolis and Francis Gene Beardslee of Mt. Clemens; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Wednesday will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ or Shriner's Crippled Chilrdren's Hospital of Chicago.

Cleo I. Beckwith
Feb. 25, 1913-Dec. 27, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 29, 1998, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Cleo I. Beckwith, 85, 224 Christiana Drive, Niles, will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Beckwith died Sunday at 10:55 a.m. at her home following an extended illness.

She was born Feb. 25, 1913 in South Bend, Ind. She had lived all of her life in Niles, graduating from Niles High School. She was Miss Niles in 1932.

On Nov. 11, 1935, in Niles, she married Rodney J. Beckwith, who preceded her in death on Nov. 19, 1982.

She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Pawating Hospital Auxiliary, and the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Mrs. Beckwith had been employed by Simplicity Pattern, Paris Candy, and Avon. She helped establish and operate the Hot Lunch Program at Bell School.

Mrs. Beckwith was also preceded in death by two brothers, Glen and Alfred Mell and a sister, Neldine Warner.

Surviving family includes four sons, Rodney J. Beckwith III of Livonia, Brian A. Beckwith of Niles, and Henry A. Beckwith of Ypsilianti, and Craig A. Beckwith of LaPorte, Ind.; a brother, Raymond Mell of Jackson; and seven grandchildren.

Friends may call Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church.

Margaret C. Bella
Feb. 15, 1916-Nov. 4, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 5, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Margaret C. Bella, 82, 2939 South Third Street, Niles, will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Richard L. Rice of Niles.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Bella died Wednesday at 10 p.m at Riveridge Manor, Niles, following an extended illness.

She was born Feb. 15, 1916, in East Gary, Ind. He[sic] lived in Niles since 1932 coming from Galien.

On July 7, 1964, in St. Joseph, she married Gaza Bella, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, James Lolmaugh of Niles and Eugene Lolmaugh of Buchanan, two sisters, Virginia Wharton of Three Oaks and Irene Grayson of Muskegon; and three grandchildren.

Friends may call a half an hour prior to the services at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

S.A. "Tex" Brett
Oct. 31, 1920-Dec. 26, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 30, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for S.A. "Tex" Brett, 78, 915 Cedar Street, Niles, will be Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4 F. and A.M.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Brett died Saturday at 11:45 a.m at Lakeland Continuing Care Center, Berrien Center, following an extended illness.

He was born Oct. 31, 1920 in London, Texas. He had lived here since 1964, coming from Three Rivers.

On June 11, 1952, in Crown Point, Ind., he married the former Zelda M. Godrey, who survives.

Brett retired in 1990 as Manager of City of Niles Board of Public Works after 27 years.

He had a B.S. degree from Anderson College and a B.S. degree from Purdue University in Electrical Engineering.

Brett was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army.

He was a life member and twice served as president of the Michigan Municipal Electrical Association.

Brett initiated electrical co-oping with other municipalities providing electricity (eventually Indiana and Michigan Municipal Distributors Association).

Twenty years ago, he began using space cable (i.e. able to withstand weight loads) in the City of Niles.

He was also instrumental in providing a double loop system capable of reversing electrical flow to minimize power outages in a geographic area.

Brett successfully assisted the city of Niles in a multi-million dollar litigation settlement against another power provided.

He was a member of the National Professional Engineering Society and the National Society of Electrical Engineers.

Brett was also a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, K-12 Knights Templar, Blue Lodge, Niles shrine Club, Saladin Shrine Club of Grand Rapids, and American Legion Headquarters Post No. 225, Indianapolis, Ind.

Surviving family also includes three daughters, Linda Brett of Sierra Vista, Ariz., Dawn Rowden of Bisbee, Ariz., and Susan Philips of Niles; a son, Richard Brett of Mishawaka, Ind.; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley Untied Methodist Church, Niles.