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.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

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

Vernon H. "Dusty" Rhoades
June 18, 1898-Aug. 28, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 29, 1968, page 26, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

 

Vernon H. Rhoades, 70, of 814 N. 13th St., died at 2 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 28, 1968) in Pawating Hospital after he had been ill for several weeks.

Mr. Rhoades was born June 18, 1898, in Niles and has lived here all of his life. He married the former Mable E. McOmber June 6, 1928 in Niles. Mrs. Rhoades survives.  Mr. Rhoades was employed at the Drolet’s Main Oak Drug Store and was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, a WWI veteran, a member of the Niles American Legion Post No. 26, and the Four Flags Barracks.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home, with the Rev. Leonard F. Putnam officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, where full military rites will be held by the American Legion Post No. 26.  Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Johnathan Rhoades
Nov. 16, 1851-Feb. 2, 1928

Johnathan Rhoades Dies at Logansport
Resident of Niles for 30 years passes away at Hospital.

Johnathan Rhoades, 76, a former well known resident of West Niles for 30 years, died at an early hour, Feb. 2, 1928, in a hospital in Logansport, Ind. where he had been a patient since last spring. The body will be brought to Niles, probably this evening and will be at the Troost & Augustine undertaking rooms until he day of the funeral. The places for the funeral are not completed pending the arrival of the children of the deceased, who live elsewhere but the services will probably be held at the home of Mr. Rhoades daughter, Mrs. Ernest L. Maas, 1640 Oak Street.

Mr. Rhoades was born on a farm in Kosciusko County, Indiana on Nov. 16, 1851. He was married in August 1879, to Frederica Vetter who died a number of years ago. Mr. Rhoades brought his family to Niles from Buchanan about 30 years ago. For about 30 years he continued to make his home in Niles, but for the last five years had made his home with his children. During most of his life in Niles, he was employed at the Kompass & Stoll factory.

Mrs. Rhoades is survived by five children who are, Mrs. Ernest Maas, and Vernon Rhoades, Niles, Mrs. O.H. James of Wanatan, Ind., Charles W. Lima, O. and Ralph of Hobart. Ind.

Funeral services for John Rhoades, who body was brought to Niles form Logansport, Ind., will be held on Sunday afternoon at the Evangelical church in West Niles. Rev. W. H. Canfield, pastor of the Evangelical church in Buchanan, will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Frederica Rhoades
March 4, 1858-May 11, 1914

Mrs. Frederic Rhoades
Passed away with all her children at her bedside
Mrs. Frederic Rhoades was an industrious, faithful Wife and Mother.

Last night at 10:45 o’clock, May 11, 1914, with her children gathered at her bedside, Mrs. Frederic Rhoades passed from the life, ending a period of usefulness and good works. For about a years and a half Mrs. Rhodes had been in poor health, Suffering from pernicious anemia, and for four weeks she had been bedfast. Her demise had been expected for more than two weeks, but the blow was just as severe and hard to bear. Frederica Vetter was born in Whittenbery, Germany, March 4, 1858. At the age of 14 she came to Berrien County with her parents and in Sept. 16, 1879, she was united in marriage to John Rhoades of Buchanan, residing in that village for a time, before their removal to this city 18 years ago. Their home was located at 117 Lincoln Avenue.

She is survived by her husband, John Rhoades; five children, Mrs. Clara James of Clark Station, Ind., Chas Rhoades of Uppper Sandusky, Ohio, Ralph Rhoades of Gary, IN, Harriett of Niles and Vernon of Upper Sandusky, Ohio; five grandchildren; and a brother, Chas Vetter of Near Niles.  The funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock form the house and at 2 o’clock from the Evangelical church of which, the deceases was a member. Rev. Renner will officiate. Interment will be made at silver Brook Cemetery.

Mrs. Rhoades was well loved, her ever willingness to help others endearing her to all the neighbors, and the work “Neighbor: as used by her, meant much. Any one in need received her attention. 

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown