Obituaries

Mildred "Millie" Hickerson Arnett
April 27, 1931-Aug. 2, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 6, 1997, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Millie Arnett
1931-1997
Registered Nurse

Committal service for Mrs. Millie Arnett, 66, Banning, Calif., will occur at a later date.  Her place of burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles,

Mrs. Arnett died at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 2, following an extended illness.

She was born April 27, 1931, in Niles.

Mrs. Arnett was a registered nurse who lived in California 38 years, coming from Niles.

Survivors include two sons, Steven Arnett of Banning, and Scott Arnett of Lakin, Kan.; her mother, Montana "Monte" Reed of Niles and two brothers, Max Hickerson of Edwardsburg and Michael Freedman of Highland, Calif.

There will be no visitation. Obituary information by Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 24, 1997, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Graveside services for Mrs. Mildred "Millie" Hickerson Arnett, who died Aug. 2, at Banning, Calif. will be Friday at 2:30 p.m., at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, is in charge of arrangements.

DeVerne Asmus
Feb. 15, 1905-Oct. 7, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 8, 1986, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DeVerne Asmus, 81, 11415 Sioux Trail, Niles, a member of the Kawneer 25 Year Club, died Tuesday at Wilds Quiet Acre in Buchanan.

He was born Feb. 15, 1905 in Niles and was a lifetime Niles resident. On June 20, 1925, he married Ella Villwock who died in 1977.

Surviving are one son, Duane of Niles; one brother, Clarence of Niles; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services are 1:30 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Rev. Louie J. Schweppe will officiate.  Burial will be at Silverbook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 2-4 pm. and 7-9 p.m. Thursday.  Memorials may  be made to St. John's United Church of Christ.

Fern Bair
May 11, 1907-Oct. 9, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 10, 1986, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Fern Bair, 79, of 1436 Sycamore St., Niles, died at 8:40 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Medical Center in South Bend, Ind., following a brief illness.

She was born May 11, 1907, in Three Oaks and had been a life-time resident of this area. Her husband, Charles Earl Bair died Sept. 14, 1970.

Survivors include: a son, Charles of Niles; a stepdaughter, Helen Joo of Niles; a sister, Opal Phillips of Mullan, Idaho, and three grandchildren.

Graveside services are 11 a.m. Monday at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, Pastor Charles S. Kirby of the Fellowship Christian Church in Niles will officiate.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m., Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Mary Helen Bayne
Sept. 13, 1925-Aug. 1, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 2, 1997, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mary Helen Bayne, 71, of 2330 E. Main St., Niles, are Monday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by Dr. Zawdie K. Abiade of Morris Chapel United Methodist Church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles,

She died Friday at 12:20 a.m. at her home, following an extended illness.

She was born Sept. 13, 1925, in Cherokee County, Ala., and lived most of her life in Niles, moving here from Rome, Ga.

On Nov. 28, 1985, in Rome, Ga., she married William E. Bayne, who preceded her in death on Aug. 23, 1987.

Mrs. Bayne enjoyed cooking , baking and flowers.

Survivors include two sons, Danny L. Balos Sr., of Niles and John A. Frucci Jr. of South Bend, Ind.; a step-son, Craig J. Reske of Niles; her mother, Effie Adams of Rome, Ga.; two granddaughters, Jessic Frucci of Cassopolis and Dana R. Casey of Juniper, Fla.; two grandsons, Derrick E. Balos and Danny L. Balos Jr., both of Niles; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Linda Elder of Rome, Ga.

She was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.

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

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Pets Alive.

Edwin C. Bidwell
June 27, 1897-Oct. 27, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 28, 1986, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Edwin C. Bidwell, 89, 251 Cass St., Niles, former Broadway performer and vaudevillian, died at 2:05 a.m. Monday at Pawating Hospital.

He was born June 27, 189 in Connecticut and lived in Niles since 1962. Bidwell appeared in three Broadway shows: The Vagabond King, Treasure Girl and Funny Face with Fred Astaire. He spent five years touring the United States and Canada in a male quartet and was on the vaudeville circuit for one year in an octet. He was also a member of the Chicago Opera Company.

A retired furniture salesman, he was a Navy veteran of World War I and an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Executive Board of Retail Clerks Local 291 in Chicago and was its first vice president and treasurer, the Eleventh Church of Christ in Chicago, the secretarial staff of the Chicago Y.M.C.A. and the First Church of Christ Scientist in Niles.

Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to the services.  Memorials may be made to the Tribute Fund of the Christian Science Church.

Michael Dean Cain Jr.
Aug. 3, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 5, 1997, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Michael Dean Cain Jr., the son of Michael D. and Susan M. Huber Cain of 62664 Diamond View Drive, Cassopolis, was delivered still-born Sunday at 1:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Medical Center in South Bend, Ind.

His family gathered for services at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery this morning at 10 a.m. with Pastor Scott Goodman of First Baptist Church, Niles.

Survivors, in addition to his mother and father, include two sisters, Nichole Frederick and Jamie Frederick, at home; a brother, Bill Frederick, at home; a sister, Jennifer Bohlen of Nebraska; and his grandmother, Elizabeth Huber of Cassopolis.

Arrangements were handled by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions many be made to First Baptist Church, Niles.