Bertha Miller
Oct. 25, 1897-April 4, 1955
Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, April 4, 1955, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Mrs. Bertha Miller, 57, of rural route two, [Leet Road] Niles, died at 10?15 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital of a gunshot wound in her right temple. Cass County Coroner Adam Greenawalt of Cassopolis, ruled the death a suicide.
Niles State Police were called to the Miller home at 8:05 today after Mrs. Miller's husband, Joseph, found her slumped over a dresser in the bedroom. Police said she apparently stood in front of a mirror, placed the gun, a 32 caliber revolver, to her right temple and pulled the trigger. The bullet entered her head, came out on the other side, hit the mirror and bounced 10 feet in back of her.
Her husband told state police that she had been in ill health and was despondent.
Mrs. Miller was born Oct. 25, in Milton Township and had lived in this vicinity all her life. Surviving besides her husband are: her mother, Mrs. Bertha Reum, of Niles; a son, Joseph, of Niles; two grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Mervin Morris, of Niles.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. H. A. Meussling, pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Tuesday evening.