Donal J. Fout
Nov. 19, 1915 – Oct. 29, 2009

Donal J. Fout, 93, of Grand Rapids, Mich. and formerly of Niles, died at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 at Porter Hills Nursing Home, Grand Rapids, following an extended illness.

Donal was born Nov. 19, 1915 to Solon Fout and Allie Hester Powell Fout in Byhalia, Ohio. He graduated from Niles High School in 1934 and has lived in Niles all his life. He attended his 75th class reunion recently. He was a milkman for 40 years, first at City Dairy, then United, and retired from Producers Creamery. He married Donna Virginia (Clark) Fout on Oct. 19, 1938 in LaPorte, Ind. Donna died on April 9, 2008.

Donal was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Niles. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army; life member of the American Legion Post 26 in Niles; BPO of Niles Elks 1322; Saint Joseph Valley Lodge 4 F. & A.M.; Saladin Temple; and Niles Chapter 332 Order of the Eastern Star.

Donal is preceded in death by his wife and sister, Bessie Lee Fay.

Survivors include a daughter, Judith D. Scmitt, of Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Donal E. Schmitt, of Chicago, and Christina A. Hankins, of Rockford, Mich.; and great-grandchildren, Emily, Chase, Gavin and Jenna Hankins.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Janet Van Lear of First Presbyterian Church.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions can be made to The Foundation of First Presbyterian Church or Porter Hills of Grand Rapids.

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:46am Friday, October 30, 2009

 

Eleanor L. Haslanger
Jan. 27, 1912 – Nov. 16, 2009

Eleanor L. Haslanger, 97, of Wells Street and formerly Hoyt Street in Niles, died at 2:58 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 at Riveridge Manor, Niles, of natural causes.

She was born Jan. 27, 1912 in Oswego County, N.Y. to Fred A. Phillips and Minnie Sanford Phillips. She graduated from Niles High School and lived here most of her life. She married Clarence O. Haslanger on May 23, 1932 in South Bend. He died Sept. 8, 1993.

She was a retired teacher from County Normal Schools and a member of Daily Church. She was active in the Republican Party and served as the Cass County chairwoman as well as secretary vice chairwoman. She was a member of Friends of Cass District Library, and was a past member of the Cass County Republican Women’s Club. She served on the Cass County Board of Canvassers for 10 years. She was an avid reader.

She is survived by her grandchildren, Lois Salo, of Tempe, Ariz., Erick (Bambi) Salo, of Niles, Sheila Salo, of Tempe, Dee (Don) Wroblewski, of Niles, Lari Jo (Dan) Kulwicki, of Niles; former granddaughter-in-law, Pamela Salo; great-grandchildren, Ian (Amber) Salo, Alaina Salo, Melissa (Todd) Baldwin, Justin (Carrie) Dunnem; and great-great-grandchildren, Alexa Salo and Mason Joseph Baldwin.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; daughter Marcia E. Burns, who died May 22, 1994; Marcia’s husband, Larry J. Burns, who died Oct. 16, 2008; and sisters, Dorothy Jones, Evelyn Bailey and Donna Phillips.

The family will be gathering privately at the graveside with the Rev. Michael Smith of Hope Community church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

There will be no visitation. Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cass District Library or Cass County Council on Aging.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:24am Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Mitsue Murata Rose
March 25, 1924 – Dec. 24, 2009

Mitsue Murata Rose, 85, died at 3:46 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born March 25, 1924 in Kamakura, Japan to Rokuzo Murata and Hisa Yamanoue Murata. She lived in Niles since she came from Japan in 1952. She retired in 2008 after more than 40 years of service from Ziker’s Cleaners in South Bend.

She practiced Nichiren Buddhism for 46 years as a member for the SGI-USA, under the leadership of Daisaku Ikeda, her mentor in faith. Mitsue was a survivor of war. Her commitment in faith was to be a voice for peace.

She married Robert W. “Sonny” Rose on Jan. 28, 1952 in Yokohawa, Japan. He died July 9, 2008.

She is survived by a stepdaughter, Jodi (Anthony) Vanlerberghe of Richland, Mich.; stepchildren, Ashtyn, Macen and Ava; many nieces and nephews in Japan; and brothers, Ichiro Murata and Masuo Murata.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Karl Smith, Men’s Division Leader of Northern Indiana Area SGI-USA, officiating.

Burial will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Memorial may be made to the donor’s choice.

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:00am Saturday, December 26, 2009

 

Christine Beers-Butterworth, 50
Jan. 20, 1960 — Dec. 26, 2010

Christine L. (Madden) Beers-Butterworth, 50, of Ironwood Road, Niles, died at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Dec. 26, 2010 at home unexpectedly.

She was born Jan. 20, 1960 in Niles to Homer D. David Madden and Delores (Krueger) Madden. Chrissy graduated from Niles High School and lived in Niles all her life.

She was previously employed at the Butternut Bakery Discount Store in South Bend. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Niles.

Chrissy volunteered with the Department of Natural Resources to help rehabilitate injured and orphaned animals. She loved nature and many styles of music. She also enjoyed caring for her family and friends.

Chrissy first married John William Russell Beers II, who died in 1986.

She married Roger Paul Butterworth in 1991 in Cassopolis. He survives.

She is also survived by a daughter, Mindy Hill of Niles; a son, John William Russell Beers III of Dowagiac; mother, Dory Madden of Niles; sisters, Debby (Mark) Wisniewski of Dowagaic and Becky J. Madden of Niles; many nieces and nephews; several aunts and uncles, including Sharon and Paul Thompson and Shirley Chappell; several cousins, including Sherrie Doyle.

She was preceded in death by her father, Homer Madden, who died in February 2010, and a sister, Cathy Madden, who died in 1979.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010 at Bethel Baptist Church in Niles with the Rev. Randy Pearman of the church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to any animal welfare organization of the donor’s

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:44pm Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Margaret E. White
Sept. 22, 1900-March 31, 1993

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 3, 1993, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Margaret E. White
1900-1993
Retired from
Tucker Freight Line

    Margaret E. White, 92, of 1820 River Bluff Road, Niles, died at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday at  Bry-Fern Care Center in Berrien Center following an extended illness.
    No funeral services or visitation is scheduled. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Born Sept. 22, 1900, in Bertrand Township, she was a lifetime resident.
    On Feb. 12, 1919, in Niles she married the later Maxwell Cameron White, who preceded her in death in August 1952.
    She was a retired payroll clerk for Tucker Freight Line.
    She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, was past matron of the Order of the Eastern Star and was a former member of the Pokagon United Methodist Church.
    Survivors include a daughter, Maxine E. Jones of Niles; one grandson and three great-grandsons.  On[sic] son, William E. White preceded her in death on Aug 3, 1991.
    Funeral arrangements were handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Olive Elaine Atkinson
June 1, 1910-April 1, 1993

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 3, 1993, page 2, col. 1-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Olive Elaine Atkinson
1910-1993
retired, Clark Equipment

    Funeral services for Olive Elaine Atkinson, 82, of 2280 Warren Road, Niles, are Tuesday at 2 p.m., graveside, in Silverbrook Cemetery by the Rev. James A. Goodbow of First Presbyterian Church, Niles.
    Mrs. Atkinson died Thursday at 9:08 p.m. at Pawating Hospital, Niles, following an extended illness.
    Born June 1, 1910, in Washington, Penn., she lived most of her life in Michigan, coming to Niles in 1958.
    On March 5, 1940, in Alma, she married Everett Wesley Atkinson, who survives.
    She was a retired employee of Clark Equipment in Buchanan.
    Other survivors include three daughters, Linda Pamela Davis of Cloride, Ariz.; Yvonne Cummins of Yuma, Ariz., and Elena Kristen Hensley of South Bend, Ind.; a son, William Stuart Atkinson of Niles; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a sister, Virginia Larsen of Alpena; and a sister-in-law, Virginia Hooker of Orrville, Ohio, the widow of William Austin Grosenburg.
    She was preceded in death by a son, Jon Wesley Atkinson in 1963.
    There will be no public visitation. Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home.
    Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association.