Lena Van Swinehart
June 9, 1907-Sept. 20, 1990

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, September 20, 1990

Funeral services for Mrs. L. Van Swinehart, 83, of 623 Topinabee Road, Niles, are Monday at 11 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church by the Rev. Lloyd A. Phillips, pastor of the church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Swinehart died Thursday at 1:05 p.m. at Riveridge Manor, Niles, following an extended illness.

On June 9, 1907, she was born in Easton, Ill. She moved to Niles in 1946.

On April 20, 1940, she married Leo G. Swinehart, who survives.

Mrs. Swinehart was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, was a past member of the board of directors of Pawating Hospital Auxiliary, was a member of the Seepewa Ladies Club and the Signal Point Club.

Other survivors include a brother, E.G. VanEtten of Springfield; a sister, Ollie Leachner of Fort Scott, Kan.; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call Sunday from 20 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the charity of the donor's choice.

Leo G. Swinehart
Jan. 4, 1911-Aug. 31, 1999

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), Thursday, September 2, 1999, page 40, col. 3, @newspapers.com

Mr. Leo G. Swinehart, 88, of 623 Topinabee Road, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 8:55 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31, in Regency Place Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, South Bend, Ind.

He was born on Jan 4, 1911 in Cooksville, Ill. to Samuel E. and Bertha M. (Hutchinson) Swinehart. In 1946, he moved to Niles from Chicago.

Mr. Swinehart was a retired Corporate Secretary for the Kawneer Company and was also a Certified Public Accountant. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles, the Niles Lions Club, The former Pickwick Club, Signal Point Club, and the B.P.O. Of Niles Elks lodge #1322. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he played varsity basketball.

On April 20, 1940 in Springfield Ill., he married the former L. Van VanEtten, who died on Sept 20, 1990.

Funeral services for Leo G. Swinehart will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 3, in Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles, with the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of the church officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Swinehart may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church or to the donor's choice.

Ward W. Thornton
Jan. 4, 1915-July 31, 1981

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), Friday, August 1, 1981, page 13, col. 3

NILES—Services for Ward W. (Bill) Thornton, 66, of 1653 Cass St., who died at 6:45 a.m. Friday at the Iron county General Hospital, Iron River, Mich., following a brief illness, will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, in the Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 2 p.m., Monday, in the funeral home. Full Masonic rites by St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F&AM will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be given to the local Tuberculosis and Emphysema Association of Berrien County.

He was born Jan. 4, 1915, in Niles and was a lifetime resident. On June 17, 1939, in Niles, he married Pauline R. Lillie, who survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs. James (JoAnne) Wagley of Niles, Mrs. Wanda Huffman of Niles, Mrs. Timothy (Judy) Plevin of Sterling Heights, Mich.; two sons, Robert of Las Vegas,Nev., and Michael of Niles; nine grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. James (Nancy Evans of Olympia, Wash.; three brothers, Lee, Gerald and Jack Thornton all of Niles. He retired in 1979 as an electrician with Thornton Electric, Inc. He was a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F&AM and a past master and a member of the Niles Shrine Club.

Frank Unley
May 15, 1908-March 21, 1987

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, March 23, 1987, page 2, col. 2-3

Frank Unley, 78, 1120 Ferry St., Niles, died at 8:31 p.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital.

He was born May 15, 1908 in Niles and was a retired party store owner. On March 29, 1952 he married Ethel Buchanan who survives.

Also surviving are one son, Jack Unley of Goshen, Ind.; one daughter, Barbara Yoder of Goshen; two stepdaughters, Faye Kalmus of Niles and Beverly Bolton of Kalamazoo; two sisters, Nevada Rosson and Margaret Taylor, both of Niles; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold O. Schaap officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call 6-9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Niles Community Library.

Oliver D. Lee
March 13, 1901-Sept. 17, 1987

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 18, 1987, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Graveside committal services for Oliver D. Lee, 1615 North Fifth St., Niles, who died Sept. 17, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Rev. Lou Schweppe of St. John's United Church of Christ in Niles will officiate. Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lee is survived by a sister, Loreta M. Maynard of Niles.

 also

The Herald-Palladium (St. Joseph, Michigan), Saturday, September 19, 1987, page 13, col. 5

NILES—Oliver D. Lee, 86, of 1615 N. Fifth St., Niles, died at 8:08 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital, Niles, after a brief illness.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles, of which he was a member. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. There will be no visitation at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, which is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the church.

Mr. Lee was born March 13, 1901, in Niles and moved back to Niles in 1981 from Onekama, Mich. He was retired from Simplicity Pattern Co.

Survivors include a daughter, Loreta Maynard of Niles. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Eleanor Poor, on Feb. 27, 1978.

Viola F. Benjamin
Sept 9, 1914-June 20, 2007

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Thursday, June 21, 2007, page 2

Viola F. Benjamin, 92, of South Third Street, Niles, died at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at Brentwood Assisted Living Community, Niles, of old age.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 23, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Dr. Anthony Tomasino of Grace United Methodist Church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

She was born on Sept 9, 1914, at Coleman, to Stephen Hayes and Lillian Weston and had lived in Niles since 1935, coming from Edwardsburg.

She retired as principal of Westside School in the Niles Community School system.

She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Niles. She graduated from Western Michigan University and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority.

She was also a life member of MEMSPA-Michigan Elementary School Principal Association, was a member of NRTA-National Retired Teachers Association, Seepawa Reading Club and was on the Reading Coordinating Council.

She was a winter resident of Bradenton, Fla. She enjoyed oil painting.

On Dec. 25, 1936 at Lakeview, she married Howard Benjamin, who died April 5, 1971.

She is survived by a sister, Freida (Donald) Martens of Lakeview; a brother, Raymond V. Hayes of Kalamazoo; a nephew, Rodney (Cindy) Martens of Hickory Corners and several other nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church. Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.