Larry F. "Frank" Roberson
Sept. 21, 1929-March 25, 2008

Larry F. “Frank” Roberson Sr., 78, of Bruce Street, Niles, died Tuesday, March 25, 2008, in West Woods of Niles, following a brief illness.

Mr. Roberson was born on September 21, 1929, in Dyersburg, Tennessee to Glittie Larry and Frankie Lee (Smith) Roberson. Frank was raised in South Bend and attended Riley High School.

He retired in 1994, after 40 years of services from Simplicity Pattern Company, Niles. Frank attended Franklin A.M.E. Church in Niles, he was a member of Bookbinders and Graphic Arts Local Unions, and was formerly a member of John W. Moore Lodge #42 F. &A.M. He enjoyed golf and yard work and volunteered at the Niles-Buchanan Senior center.

On January 28, 1951, in Niles he married the former Barbara Jean Finley, who survives. Mr. Roberson is also survived by two sons, Larry F. Roberson Jr. of Lansing, Michigan and Kevin (Ausma) Roberson of Fairfax, Virginia; nine grandchildren, Sonya Pyle, Derk, Nicohole, Caprice, Schuyler, Alyshia, Dameson, Rija and Tailis Roberson; five great-grandchildren, brother, Wilber Finus Bass of Houston, Texas and several nieces , nephews and cousins.

Funeral services for Larry F. “Frank" Roberson Sr., will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, in Franklin A.M.E. Church with Rev. Jared L. Graves Sr., Officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call beginning a 1 p.m. on Saturday in the church.  Halbritter Funeral home, Niles, is handling arrangements.  Contributions in memory of Larry F. Roberson Sr. may be made to Franklin A.M.E. Church.

Alice Rinehart
May 23, 1892-March 25, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 25, 1971, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Alice Rinehart, 79, formerly of 1351 Sheridan Avenue, Niles, died at 1:30 a.m. today (March 25, 1971) in Berrien General Hospital, after being in poor health for some time.

Born May 23, 1892, in South Bend Mrs. Rinehart had lived here most of her life. Her husband, Earl E. died in 1947.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Arlan Schlundt of St. John’s United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Robert E. Rinehart
Feb. 9, 1923-March 5, 1995

Robert E. Rinehart, 72, of 16400 Valley Trail,  Mishawaka, died at 6:25 a.m. Sunday March 5, 1995 in St. Joseph's Medical Center after an illness. Mr. Rinehart retired from Clark Equipment Co., Buchanan. He was born Feb. 9, 1923, in Edwardsburg and was a lifelong area resident. On Sept. 10, 1976, in Mishawaka, he married Mary (Barrett) Russell, who survives. He was a member of American Legion Post 365, Edwardsburg, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 360 and Moose Lodge 599, Elkhart, and was a veteran of World War II.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, with services conducted by VFW Post 360. Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.

In Berrien General Hospital, after being in poor health for sometime.

Bertha Rigney
March 10, 1896-Jan. 4, 1956

Mrs. Bertha Rigney, 59, died at 9:11 a.m. Wednesday in the home of her sister, Mrs. Clifford Hill, 2440 Lake Street, where she had made her home.  She had been in poor health for the past four years.

Mrs. Rigney was born March 10, 1896, in Clark County, IL, and moved to Niles in 1941 from Arkansas.

Surviving are her mother, Mrs. Etta Miller of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Robert Taylor, of Buchanan; two sons, Levi Pearson Stover, of Mishawaka, Ind., and Virgil Stover of Niles; four brothers, Walter J. Miller, of Barron Lake, Milo T., of Fordyce, Ark., Willis, of Tinsman, Ark., and Howard of Niles; and one other sister, Miss Natalie Miller of Fordyce.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. Clarence Pedersen, pastor of the First Assembly of God Church here, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 5, 1956, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Edna B. Richards
1910-Dec. 10, 1999

Edna B. Richards, 89, of 76 Sunset Lane, Niles, died Friday Dec. 10, 1999,  in her home of natural causes. Survivors include a daughter, Jacquelyn L. Plummer of Niles; and a sister, Lois J. Poston of Corpus Christi, Texas. Private graveside services will be Monday in Silverbrook Cemetery. Pifer-Smith Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Rev. Richard L. Rice
Nov. 18, 1924-Feb. 25, 2002

Rev. Richard L. Rice, 77, of Grant Street, Niles, MI, died at 4 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25, 2002, in his home. His passing was sudden, but of natural causes.

He was born on Nov. 18, 1924, in Chicago, IL, to Ennis and Florence (Conner) Rice, and was raised in Downers Grove, IL. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was discharged as a corporal for the Military Police. He earned the Bachelor of Arts degree from Wheaton (Illinois) College, and the bachelor of theology degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago.

His professional ministry began as he helped to establish the First Baptist Church of Oaklawn, Ill. He went on to serve pastorates at Grace Baptist Church, Mahomet, IL, First Baptist Church, South Holland, IL, Bethany Baptist Church, Billings, Mont., and Pleasant View church, Lebanon, Ind. He and Mrs. Rice retired to Niles in 1989, from where he has served as interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, South Bend and Mason Baptist Church, Cassopolis, Mich. He also served an integral part of the staff of the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, both in his role as a minister and as a caregiver to families served.  He was a member of First Baptist Church, Niles.

He enjoyed camping, working in his yard and shop, and traveling nationally and internationally to visit his children and grandchildren.

On May 29, 1948, at Westmont, IL, he was married to the former Shirley Riggenbach, who survives. He is also survived by their daughters, Cheryl (Rev. Leon) Hill of Tokyo, Japan, Kimberly (Paul) Kenote of West Linn, Ore., and Beth Rice (Jim) Lewis of Evanston, IL; five grandchildren; and his brothers, Ennis Rice Jr. of Chicago and Tom Rice of Spring Hill, FL.  He was preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey Rice.

Funeral services for Rev. Richard L. Rice will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 1, in the First Baptist Church, Niles, with the Rev. Scott A. Goodman of church officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, and will conclude with a veteran’s flag presentation by American Legion Post #26 commander John McLaughlin.  The family will receive friends in the Halbritter Funeral Home Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Rev. Rive may be made to the Conservative Baptist International Mission fund, 1501 West Mineral Avenue, Littleton, CO 80120.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown