Ethel R. (Rice) Schmidt
Dec. 27, 1886-June 15, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 15, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Ethel R. Schmidt, 76, of 618 N. 4th St., died at 6 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital following an illness of six weeks. She was admitted to the hospital June 7.

Mrs. Schmidt, a lifelong resident of Niles, was born here on Dec. 27, 1886. Her husband, Karl B. Schmidt, died on July 23, 1952.

She is survived by her father, William C. Rice, Niles; a son, Martin I. Schmidt, rural Berrien Center; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. J. Walter Wood, and one brother, Roy H. Rice, both of Niles.

Mrs. Schmidt was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in the Silverbrook Mausoleum.

The family has requested that flowers be omitted.

Friends may call after 3 p.m. Sunday at the Kiger Funeral Home.

Delphine Lenke Layman, 89
Jan. 20, 1923-Jan. 3, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:11pm Thursday, January 3, 2013

Delphine Lenke Layman,  89, of North Fifth Street in Niles, died at 1:50 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at Riveridge Manor in Niles following an extended illness.

She was born on Jan. 20, 1923, in Eau Claire  to Frank and Charlotte (Sooker) Lenke.

She  graduated from Niles High School in 1941 and lived here all of her life. She was employed for 17 years at the former Saint Joseph Bank in South Bend, retiring from its successor, Systematics.

Delphine was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles. She was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy WAVES as a radio operator.

She enjoyed painting in acrylics, completing crossword puzzles and actively watching the “Jeopardy” television game show.

She was formerly married to Pierre A. “Pete” Layman, who has died, and she was also preceded in death by her parents.

Surviving family includes her children, Cathy Layman of Bay City, Dale (and

Kathleen) Layman of Joliet, Ill., and Dean Layman, of South Bend, Ind.; several grandchildren, including Pete, Alexis, Amanda and Andrew; and great-grandchildren; and Delphine’s brother, Alfred (and Marge) Lenke, of San Diego, Calif., and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Delphine Lenke Layman will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday,

Jan. 5, 2013, at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles with the Rev. Carl Bassett

W. Bassett of the church officiating. The service will conclude with the Veteran’s

Flag Presentation and “Taps” in the churchyard by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.

Committal services will be private, on Monday, at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Delphine may be made to the donor’s choice.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Mary W. Garnhart
April 8, 1874-Jan. 20, 1959

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 21, 1959, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home here for Mrs. Mary W. Garnhart, 84, of 251 Bond Street, who died Tuesday morning in Pawating Hospital  where she had been a patient since Jan. 12. The Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Garnhart, a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Whatsoever Class of the church, was born April 8, 1874 in Elizabeth, N.J., and came to Niles in 1924 from Illinois.  Her husband, Daniel, preceded her in death in 1954.

Surviving are: a daughter, Mrs. Harry Staver, of Niles; one grandchild, and two great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Ardella Gentry
April 16, 1904-March 26, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 27, 1980, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Ardella Gentry, 75, of 1702 Ferry St., died at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Pawating Hospital following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Gentry was born April. 16, 1904, in Niles, and was a lifetime resident here. She was  a member of the Apostolic Faith Assembly Church, where she belonged to the Ladies Auxiliary and the Pastor's Aid.  She was a homemaker.

On Jan. 1, 1927, in South Bend, She married Thurston D. Gentry. He survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Frank Gentry and Jerrell Gentry, both of Niles; and a daughter, Mrs. Ted (Joyce) Miller, also of Niles; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Apostolic Faith Assembly with the Rev. W.J. Coad officiating.  Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thrusday[sic] at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles. Memorials may be given to the Apostolic Faith Assembly and the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Bertha Gerold
Sept. 1, 1873-Jan. 19, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 19, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Bertha Gerold, 79, of 1318 Regent street, died at 12:05 a.m. today at her home after an illness of several years.

She was born in Marcellus on Sept. 1, 1873. She was married in Marcellus on Oct. 17, 1894, to Gabriel Gerold who survives and they came here from Three Rivers in 19176[sic], She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge.

Also surviving are: two sons, Volney of Niles and Winfred of Calument City, Ill.; two daughters, Mrs. Howard Koenigshof of South Bend and Mrs. Genevieve Van-T'Roer of Clarkston; one brother, William Hartman of Lowell; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

All members of the Niles Rebekah Lodge are requested to meet at the funeral home at 1:45 p.m Wednesday to attend the rites.

Olga H. Giddings
April 25, 1880-March 6, 1959

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 7, 1959, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Olga H. Giddings, 78, formerly of 112 South Fourth Street, died Friday afternoon at the home of her son, Lyle Giddings, 2010 Hollywood Place, South Bend, where she had made her home for the past year. She had been ill for the past five months.

Mrs. Giddings was born on April 26, 1880, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada,and came to Niles 46 years ago from Cobourg, Canada. Her husband, Dr. Burton D. Giddings, well known Niles physician, preceded her in death on April 29, 1936. Surviving beside her son are three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home here with the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of which she had been a member, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.