Obituaries

We now have over 7,000 obituaries collected about the interred here at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The obituaries are transcribed by the volunteers of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery from various sources.  If you see an opportunity for an addition or a correction, please email our obituary editor at obits@friendsofsilverbrook.org.

Hamilton, Lola M. (Dalenberg)

Lola Mae Hamilton
March 24, 1924-July 12, 2006

Lola Mae Hamilton, 82, of Platt Street, Niles, Michigan, died at 3:13 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2006, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Indiana, due to an extended illness.

Mrs. Hamilton was born on March 24, 1924, in Buchanan, Michigan, to Leonard and Edna M. (Annable) Dalenberg. She was a lifetime area resident.

Following her 1942 graduation from Buchanan High School, she was co-owner of Hamilton Monument in Niles. She also worked for many years at the City of Niles Treasurers office.

On September 4, 1946, in Buchanan, Lola Mae married Leland L. Hamilton Jr., who survives. She was a caring mother to her children, Leslie L. (Rich) Mull of Lansing, Leland L. "Larry" (Deborah) Hamilton of Colusa, California, Lyle L. Hamilton of Niles, Laura L. Hamilton of Niles, Lisa L. (Matt) Bruni of Niles and Lane L. (Kerry) Hamilton of Aurora, Colorado.

Mrs. Hamilton was a devoted grandmother to her eleven grandchildren, Alec, Iian and Cameron Mull, Alycia Williams, Kelly Deming, Sarah Zawacki, Jordan Hamilton Bruni, Adam Bruni and Lindsey, Lauren and Logan Hamilton; and a proud great-grandmother to Finn, Lola and Eli Mull, Kyleigh Deming and Alyssa Zawacki.

She is survived by a brother, Leonard B. "Bud" Dalenberg of Niles. Four siblings preceded her in death, Ramona Halderman, Annabelle Wright and Jack and Donald Dalenberg.

The family of Lola Mae Hamilton will receive friends and relatives form 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday July 16 in the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Private family funeral services will be held. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. Hamilton may be made to either the American Heart or Cancer organizations.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Ham, Eugene

Eugene M. Ham
Nov. 27, 1911-June 15, 1979

Eugene M. Ham, died June 15, 1979 in Niles, He was born November 27, 1911 in East Youngstown, Ohio. He was married May 2, 1938 in Detroit to Margaret W. White who died in 1977. Survivors include sons, Charles, Albert, Richard, John Mcconnell; daughter, Claire (Thomas) Wiggons; brother, Jack, Robert, Frank; and sister, Martha Goodsell.  Services were held in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. 

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Hall, Mildred F.

Mildred F. Hall
April 30, 1906-Jan. 7, 1995

Mildred F. Hall, 88, of 509 N. 14th St., Niles, died at 9:56 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 1995, in Riveridge Manor after an illness. Mrs. Hall retired from Pawating Hospital after 50 years. She was born April 30, 1906, in Michigan City and moved to Niles in 1920. On Aug. 16, 1930, in South Bend, she married Arthur N. Hall. He died Nov. 26, 1968. Surviving are a son, Larry R. of Niles; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. A son, James A., died in August 1992. She graduated from the nursing program at Epworth Hospital, South Bend, and was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Order of Eastern Star and American Association of Retired Persons.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Hall, Eric Lamar

Eric L. Hall
June 25, 1969-Aug. 4, 2003

Minister Eric Lamar Hall, 34, brother, nephew, uncle and cousin, who lived on East 12th Street, Mishawaka, Ind., passed away at 1:46 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, 2003, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka.

Eric was born June 25, 1969, in South Bend, Ind., to Ora and Elaine (Holley) Hall. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a sister, Sandra Hall.

Coming from Niles, Mich., he had lived in Mishawaka for the past two years. He had also lived in South Bend for 12 years prior to residing in Niles. Eric was employed for five years as a certified nursing assistant for the Countryside Nursing Home.

Minister Hall was a member of Soul Seekers Church where he served as a minister.

Minister Hall has left a family of two sisters, Mary Davis and Toni Hall, both of Niles; four aunts, Larean Wright of Alexander City, Ala., Lela Fox of Berrien Springs, Mich., and Vera Scott and Grace Jones, both of Niles; two uncles, Manassea Holley of Alexander City and Randolph (Clara) Scott of Niles; a niece, Robin Denise Perkins, and a great-nephew, Markus Slaughter, both of Niles; and a host of cousins, including one special, James Bray of South Bend; and many friends.

Funeral services for Minister Hall will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11, in Soul Seekers Church, with Pastor Charles Lee officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Friends may call in the church one hour prior to the service.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Alford's Mortuary.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Haley, Ora Lee

Ora Lee Haley
Aug. 14, 1907-Jan. 7, 1995

Ora Lee Haley, 87, of 1221 Sycamore St., Niles, died at 7:30 p.m. Saturday Jan. 7, 1995,  in Pawating Hospital after an illness. Mrs. Haley was born Aug. 14, 1907, in Manchester, Tenn., and moved to Niles in 1927. On March 9, 1924, in Manchester, she married Earl L. Haley. He died Oct. 5, 1987. Surviving are a daughter, Beatrice N. Prince of Niles, and a granddaughter, Andrea Daley of Georgia. A daughter, Helen L. Rose, died March 3, 1987.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after noon Tuesday in the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Halbritter, Theodore "Ted"

Ted L. Halbritter
April 21, 1920-Aug 13, 1994

Ted L. Halbritter, president of Halbritter Funeral Home and former director of the former First Federal Savings & Loan, died Saturday following an illness. He was 74.

Mr. Halbritter, of 1624 Broadway St., joined the Kiger Funeral Home in 1947.

In 1962, he purchased and operated the funeral home until semi-retiring in 1986 when his son, Ted III, purchased the business.

Mr. Halbritter was born April 21, 1920, in Sioux Falls, S.D., and moved to Niles in 1946 from Clinton, Okla.

On Nov. 11, 1944, in Clinton, he married Ruthe E. Montgomery.

She survives with a daughter, Sandra Halbritter Bartley of Grafton, Ohio; a son Ted Halbritter III of Niles; four grandchildren; a sister, Helen Gillette of Wessington Springs, S.D.; and two brothers, Wesley and Kenneth both of Sioux Falls.

Mr. Halbritter was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Michigan Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, Niles Lions Club, American Legion Post 26, Niles Elks Lodge, Niles Fraternal Order of Police, Westside Notre Dame Fan Club and Fernwood Botanical Gardens.

He served on the Greater Niles Economic Development Foundation, Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, Niles-Buchanan Y.M.C.A. and Niles-Buchanan United Way.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Navy.

He graduated from Wayne State University Department of Mortuary Science.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the church.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, where John McLaughlin American Legion Post 26 will conduct flag services.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Haimbaugh, Letha Helen

Letha Helen Haimbaugh
Sept. 29, 1909-Feb. 21, 2004

Mrs. Letha Helen Haimbaugh, 94, formerly of Niles, Mich., died at 7:40 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21,  2004, in Cass County Medical Care Facility, Cassopolis, Mich., following a brief illness.

She was born on Sept. 29, 1909, in Jennings County, Ind., to George and Iva (Bailey) Walters. She moved from Plymouth, Ind., to Niles in 1941, where she lived on North Sixth Street and later on Bicknell Avenue. She was employed at Simplicity Pattern Company, Niles, for 23 years, retiring in 1967.

She enjoyed flower gardening, baking and walking, and more recently had enjoyed reading. She had been active at the Senior Center of Niles. Her greatest accomplishment and pleasure was raising seven children

On Sept. 2, 1928, in Rochester, Ind., she was married to Russell Haimbaugh who died on May 3, 1957. She was also preceded in death by a son, LaVern Haimbaugh; grandson, Rick Harper; two great-grandchildren; her twin sister, Millie Pickens and sisters, Lola Lacey, Alta Dimmitt and Opal Randolph; and a brother, Vachal Walters.

Mrs. Haimbaugh is survived by her children, Clifford (Sandi) Haimbaugh of Bonita Springs, Fla., Howard (Clarice) Haimbaugh of Middlebury, Ind., Betty (Jim) Robbins of Chelsea, Mich., Robert (Betty Ann) Haimbaugh of Prosperity, S.C., Marilyn (Russ) White of Niles, Jack (Joyce) Haimbaugh of Niles and Helen (Rich) Critchlow of Niles; 16 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren; and twin great-great-grandchildren.

Services for Letha H. Haimbaugh will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Carl L. Harrison of Trinity United Methodist Church, Niles, officiating. Committal Services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends in the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Feb. 24.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. Haimbaugh may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service; Dew-Lay Care Center; or to Cass County Medical Care Facility.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown