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.

Hansen, Mary J.

Mary J. Hansen
July 23, 1880-Aug. 11, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 12, 1974, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Mary J. Hansen, 94, of 2714 Horton Ct., died at 4:25 p.m. Sunday in the Paul Stephan Nursing Home after an extended illness.

Mrs. Hansen was a charter member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church here and a member of Ladies Aid.

She was born on July 23, 1880, in German Town, Wis., and came to Niles in 1917 from New Salem, N.D. She married Conrad E. Hansen on May 28, 1909, in Dickerson, N.D.  He died Oct. 6, 1959.

Survivors include a son, Edward of Niles, six daughters, Mrs. Charles Fandre, Mrs. Kenneth Morris, Mrs. Ray Spansail and Mrs. Erwin Winegeart, all of Niles, Mrs. Edward Bucher of St. Louis, Mo., and Mrs. James Cool of South Bend; a brother, Walter Borchardt of Tomahawk, Wis., three sisters, Mrs. George Benzel of Waltham, Minn., Mrs. Max Topeka of New Salem, N.D., and Mrs. James Toone of Kaysville, Utah, 25 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter Funeral Home after 1 p.m. Tuesday.

 

Havener, Ernest E.

Ernest E. Havener
Oct. 6, 1916-Aug. 30, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 30, 1974, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Ernest E. Havener, 57, of 2739 Paul St., died at 6:15 a.m. today in Hines Hospital, Chicago, Ill. after an extended illness.

Mr. Havener was an employe of the Heidelberg Inn of Niles, a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Air Force.

He was born Oct. 6, 1916, in Eau Claire, Mich. and lived his lifetime in the area. On June 7, 1951, in Valparaiso, Ind., he married the former Alma May Fisher who survives.

Also surviving are five sons, Ronald of Santa Cruz, Cal., Michael, of Buchanan, Steven of Niles, Ernest Jr. of Mt. Solom, Va., and Frank, at home; one daughter, Sheila, also at home; three sisters, Mrs. Pearl Newton and Mrs. Florence Reid, both of Niles, and Mrs. Hazel Goss of Bangor, Mich; 6 brothers; Albert, Claude, and Leroy Havener of Niles, Sam and Kenneth Williams of Niles, and Elmer Havener of Kalamazoo, Mich., and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Oris Robert of the First Apostolic Church of South Bend officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Monday at the funeral home.

 

King, Lydia A.

Lydia A. King
July 24, 1905-Aug. 19, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 20, 1974, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Lydia A. King, 69, of 803 Iroquois Tr., died at 10:50 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital after an illness of several months.

She was a retired teacher and a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and the Order of Eastern Star.

She was born July 24, 1905 in Marion, Ill., and lived in this area since 1966, coming from Northville, Mich. On Dec. 22, 1934, in East St. Louis, Ill., she married Charles F. King, who survives.     Also surviving is one son, the Rev. Charles F. King of Racine, Wis.; a daughter, Mrs. Joseph (Marianne) Kepczyk, of East Lansing, a brother Col. Lowell A. Davis of Auburn, Ill., and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 :30 a.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Karen S. Slager and the Rev. Charles F. King officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.  Memorials be given to the Wesley United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

 

Miller, Elizabeth 1882-1930

Elizabeth Miller
Dec. 9, 1882-April 9, 1930


Niles Daily Star, Thursday , April 10, 1930, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. ELIZABETH MILLER DIES AT AGE OF 67 YEARS

Passes Away at Sycamore Street Home After Week's Illness

Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, 67, widow of William Miller, died Wednesday afternoon at 8:30 at her home, 701 Sycamore street, after a week of illness. The body is at the Troost and Augustine chapel and friends may call there to view the body this evening and until 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. The funeral services will be held in the chapel at 2:30 on Saturday afternoon. The Rev. W.G. Webbink, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church, will officiate. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mrs. Miller was born in Wilgartswiesen, Germany. She came to America in 1892. She was married to Mr. Miller on June 18, 1893.  He died on Jan. 11, 1924. Until six years ago when her health began to fail Mrs. Miller was an ernest [sic]worker in St. John's church and was highly esteemed as a neighbor and friend. She was bedfast for but one week prior to her death.

Surviving Mrs. Miller are her three children, Harry and Herman Miller and Mrs. G.C. Walters, all of Niles and four stepchildren who are Rudolf Miller, Niles, Mrs. Clara Larsen, Chicago, Mrs. Lizzzie Kreuger, Benton Harbor and Fred Miller of Kalamazoo. Four grandchildren, Mildred and Malcolm Walters, Raymond Miller and Walter Larsen also survive.

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 15, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL MRS. MILLER

Among those from out of the city who attended the funeral services for Mrs. Elizabeth Miller on Saturday afternoon were Mrs. Minnie Lehr, of Bremen, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Meyer of Wyatt, Ind., Mrs. Clara Larson, of Chicago, Mrs. Elizabeth Kreuger and Mrs. Corinne Williams of Benton Harbor and Fred Miller and daughter of Kalamazoo. The services were conducted by the Rev. W.G. Webbink, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church. Mr. and Mrs. Rex Leach sang. Burial was made in Silver brook cemetery. Beautiful flowers covered the casket.

Miller, Harry W.

Harry W. Miller
March 21, 1894-Aug. 26, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 26, 1974, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES-- Harry W. Miller, 80 of 538 Lake St., died at 4:15 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital after an illness of two weeks.

He was a retired employe of National-Standard Co.

Mr. Miller was born March 21, 1894, in Niles and lived here his lifetime.

Survivors include one brother, Herman F. of Niles, and one sister, Mrs. Emma W. Walters, also of Niles.

Private services will be held Wednesday with the Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Scruggs, Marian E. (Finley)

Marion E. Scruggs (Finley)
June 5, 1925-Aug. 13, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 13, 1974, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Marion E. Scruggs, 49, of 1619 Huron St., died at 6:05 a.m. Tuesday in Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, following an illness of two years.

Mrs. Scruggs was born June 5, 1925, and was a lifetime resident of Niles. She was a retired employe of Clark Equipment of Co. and was a member of the Franklin A.M.E. Church.

She is survived by a son, William, two daughters, Maribeth and Wendy, all of Niles; three brothers, Homer Finley of Chicago, Clarence Finley of Niles and Seth Finley of Tacoma, Wash., and three sisters, Mrs. Anita Travick  and Mrs. Norma Taylor of Niles and Mrs. Esther Woodford of White Cloud, Mich.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Halbritter Funeral Home. The Rev. Charles E. Wilson of the Franklin A.M.E. Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Memorials may be given to the Berrien County Cancer Service and Open Door Mental Retardation Center.

 

Smith, Donna B.

Donna B. Smith
Sept. 21, 1911-Aug. 12, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 12, 1974, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES-- Mrs. Donna B. Smith, 62, 251 Cass St., died at 6 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.

Born Sept. 21, 1911, in Niles. Mrs. Smith was a lifetime resident of Niles.

Survivors include one son, Maurice Laubach of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Harold Treesh and Mrs. William Bowers, both of Niles, and six grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Donald Cozadd of Grace United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.