Obituaries

Hazel B. Bush
July 31, 1899-May 19, 1972

Mrs. Hazel B. Bush, 72, of 1324 N. Fifth St., died at 3:20 p.m. Friday in South Bend Osteopathic Hospital after an illness of one week.

A retired employee of Simplicity Pattern Co., Mrs. Bush was born July 31, 1899, in Allegan and had lived her since 1934, coming from Allegan.  On May 1, 1920, in Kalamazoo, she married Leon Bush, who died July 24, 1952. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, Disabled American Veteran’s Auxiliary and Four Flags Barracks of Veterans of World War I.

Survivors include two sons, Bernard and Donald Alvin, both of Niles; six daughters, Mrs. Claude Thompson, Mrs. Lester Yehtes, Mrs. Carlotta Gleason, Mrs. Kenneth Walter Sr., and Mrs. Luis Thurston, all of Niles and Mrs. Marjorie Jackson of Ellwood, Ind.; a sister, Mrs. Mildred Murphy of Allegan, 28 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the Pifer funeral Home, with the Rev. Theodore Laesch of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publcation details unknown

Elmer Butts
Sept. 17, 1852-Aug. 5, 1931

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 5, 1931, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

ELMER BUTTS, 78, DIES AT BEND OF RIVER HOME

Was Uncle of Frank Butts of Niles; Had Been Ill for Several Years

Elmer Butts, 78, resident of The Bend of the River, died last evening at 5:30 o'clock at his farm home on Walton road.

Mr. Butts was possibly the oldest resident of Buchanan township from point of residence, having resided in Buchanan township since 1876. He had lived on this farm where he died for 55 years.

Mr. Butts had been in poor health for several years. He was born in Milton township September 17, 1852. He had been a farmer all of his life. He was married to Miss Flora Cranston in 1876. She did in 1917.

Surviving are two sons, Dr. E.R. Butts of Chicago and Floyd Butts, at home, a brother, Charles Butts, and a sister, Mrs. John Young of Milton township. Frank D. Butts of Niles is a nephew.

Funeral arrangements have not been made. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, Aug. 6, 1931, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Elmer Butts Removes Farm Pioneer

Funeral Service to be held Friday at Home on Walton Road.

Funeral services for Elmer Butts will be held in his home in the Bend of the river, on the Walton Road tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 standard time. The Rev. H. W. Staver of Buchanan will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook Cemetery in Niles.

Elmer Butts, who was a pioneer resident of this section, died on Thursday August 4 at 5:30 p.m. of paralysis. He had been confined to his bed for about 30 days. He had been a great suffer from his eyes and had been blind for about 10 years.  Mr. Butts was an industrious and capable farmer in his younger days, and was also one of the oldest farmers in this section, having lived on his farm in the Bend of the River, continuously for 56 years.  He was born at Lawton, Mich., Sept. 17, 1852, and with his parents moved to Milton Township, Cass County where when a young man he worked for his grandfather, Peter Truitt, who at one time owned 1500 acres of land and was one the first settlers in the community, going there in 1831. This farm was six miles east of Niles.  Peter Truitt owned and managed Truitt’s tavern, which was a popular place for travelers in the early days as they came west by wagon. The tavern, a log structure, was torn down about 10 years ago, near it was the old family cemetery, which is about the only evidence of the site, where this old settler lived.

In 1876 Elmer Butts married Flora Cranston. They moved to the farm where he died. His wife, preceded him in death October 13, 1917.  Relatives who mourn are two sons, Lloyd Butts and Dr. E. R. Butts at the home; a sister, Mrs. John Young; and brother, Charles Butts, who lived east of Niles, near the site of Truitt Tavern. Nieces and nephews are Frank Butts of Niles, Mrs. R. Hubbard of Berrien Center, Mrs. Odeorn of Eaton Rapids, Mrs. Ed. Koehler of Evanston, Ill, Orville Butts, Palos Park, Ill, and Mrs. Dewey Annis, Niles.

Delores A. Buysse
July 23, 1927-April 22, 1984

Delores A. (Hartline) Buysse, 56, 1616 N. Fifth St., died at 9:51 p.m. Sunday April 22, 1984 in Pawating Hospital, after a lengthy illness.

She was a member of the Lady Moose Lodge and a retired employee of the Simplicity Pattern Co.

Born July 23, 1927 in Three Oaks, she was a lifelong are resident. She was preceded in death by her father, Silas Hartline.

On June 13, 1964, in Edwardsburg, she married George C. Buysse who survives.

Also surviving are her mother, Mrs. Victoria (Fleck) Hartline of Three Oaks; two sons, George H. Feirick Jr. of El Paso, TX, and George R. Buysse of Houston; three daughters, Mrs. Vickie Caison, Mrs. Linda Crespo and Mrs. Peggy Walter, all of Niles; a brother, Donald (Norma) Hartline of Marcellus; a sister, Mrs. Janet Carpenter of Three Oaks and four grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday April 25 in Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.

R. Dale Clark
November 10, 1927-January 18, 2008

NILES - Mr. R. Dale Clark, 80, of Carefree Court, and formerly of Beechwood Drive, died at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2008 in West Woods of Niles following an extended illness.

Mr. Clark was born Nov. 10, 1927, in Swartz Creek, MI, to Alfred and Reva (Allen) Clark, and was raised in Durand, MI. After graduation from high school, he served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II. He was also employed part time for several years by the Grand Trunk Western Railroad.

Dale began his college studies at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and was a scholarship member of the UCLA baseball team. He completed his studies at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo), earning a bachelor degree, and becoming a certified public accountant. He had lived in Niles since 1958.

He was employed by French Paper Company, Niles, for 30 years, retiring as executive vice president. In retirement, he worked part-time at Scarpone and Company, Niles, and at Southwestern Michigan College.

Mr. Clark was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles where he served as an elder, and for 26 years as usher. He always enjoyed golf, winning several championships, and playing in the Western Amateur Open one year. In retirement, he enjoyed tent camping with his wife throughout the United States, and bicycling. More recently, he has enjoyed reading, especially the classics.

On Nov. 19,1954 in Battle Creek, MI, he married the former Nancy Jane Saxton, who survives.

Also surviving are their children, Andrew Dale (Colleen) Clark of Saline, MI, Amy Jean (Bob) Strozewski of Buchanan, MI, and Patricia Ann (John) Moss of South Bend; grandchildren, Travis, Ryan, Dagne, Bobby, Barbra, Brandon, twins Jayson and Matthew, Michael and Jenna; and his sister, Jean Buckner of Battle Creek; and brother, Jack Clark of Coloma, MI.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred Clark Jr. And Jason Clark.

The funeral service for Mr. R. Dale Clark will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, in First Presbyterian Church, Niles with the Rev. Janet Van Lear of the church officiating. Committal rites will follow privately, at a later date at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of R. Dale Clark may be made to The Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church or to House Hospice

Jerry D. Hansen, Sr.
April 21, 1930 - Jan. 12, 2008

Niles Daily Star (0nline) Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:32 AM EST

Jerry Hansen, Sr., 77, of Denison, Texas and formerly of Almaugus Drive, Niles, died at 4:10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, at his home, following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Collin D. Seitz, of Community Evangelical Free Church in Niles, officiating. Services will conclude with the Veteran's Flag Presentation by American Legion Post No. 26 in Niles.

Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Heart to Heart Hospice of Sherman, Texas.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

also

Jerry D. Hansen Sr., 77, of Denison, TX, and formerly of Almaugus Drive, Niles, died at 4:10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12,  2008, in his home following a brief illness.

Mr. Hansen was born on April 21, 1930, in Canby, MN. He was the fifth out of 12 children born to the late Anna (Penner) and Christ Hansen, a Danish immigrant.

Jerry spent his early years traveling with his family out West during the Great Depression and his formative years on a farm in Harlan and in Kirkman, IA. He came to Niles in 1943 and graduated from Niles High School. Jerry followed his job with Kawneer Company to Texas in 1976. Jerry was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, having served in the United States Army.

While at Kawneer, he participated in industrial athletic leagues including bowling, softball and golf. In retirement, he walked three miles daily, golfed at the Denison Country Club, traveled to see his large family, and took care of his neighbors.

He was first married in 1950 to Mary "Maxine" (Green) Hansen. Later, in 1979, he married Martha "Marty" (Simpson) Hansen, who survives. Mr. Hansen is also survived by his daughter, Marcia (Erv) Marker of Niles; a son, Jerry (Margaret) Hansen Jr. of Niles; stepchildren, Tonja (Charlie) Ellsworth of McAlister, OK, Billy Godbey of Denison and Marty John (Sandra) Godbey of Hugo, OK; grandchildren, Emily, Caleb, Betsy, Ben, Abby, Jessica, Ashlie and Josh; great-grandchildren, Deborah and Kaleb; and his siblings, Joy Nichols of Niles, Yetive (Puzzle) Carr of Cassopolis, Don Hansen of Seaford, DE, Gene Hansen of Niles and Jan (Pat) Hansen of Richmond, VA, Lonnie Hansen of Cypress, CA, and Vicki Bliss of Grand Rapids.

He was preceded in death by four siblings, Harry Hansen, Sharon Hansen, Gladys Roy and Christ Hansen Jr.

Funeral services for Jerry D. Hansen Sr. will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Collin D. Seitz of Community Evangelical Free Church, Niles, officiating, and will conclude with the Veterans Flag Presentation by American Legion Post #26, Niles. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Jerry Hansen Sr. may be made to Heart to Heart Hospice, Sherman, TX.

Published in the South Bend Tribune from 1/17/2008 - 1/18/2008.

Kenneth Jarman
February 4, 1948-January 11, 2008

Kenneth Jarman, 59, of Hill Street, Dowagiac, MI, died unexpectedly but of natural causes at 3:00 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, 2008, in his home.

Mr. Jarman was born on February 4, 1948, in Chicago, IL, to James Monroe and Mildred Louise (Johnson) Jarman.  He had lived in Dowagiac for 18 years, moving there from Niles and Chicago. Kenneth graduated from Niles High School with the "Class of 1966."  In 2000 he retired after 25 years of service from Modineer Company in Niles.  He was a veteran of the Vietnam Era, having served two tours of duty while in the United States Army. He was a member of VFW and DAV. He enjoyed radio-controlled cars and airplanes, and restoring automobiles.

Mr. Jarman is survived by his daughter, Jennifer J. Farber of Bloomington, IN; three grandchildren, Madison, Sierra and Nicholas Farber; mother, Mildred Louise Clubb of Niles; father, James Monroe Jarman of South Bend; two sisters, Brenda J. (Craig) Biek of Niles and Nancy C. Ott of Mishawaka; two brothers, Douglas (Susan) Jarman of East Bernstadt, KY, and James P. (Rebecca Weeks) Jarman of Albion, IN; and his companion, Marilyn McAmis of Dowagiac.

Funeral services for Kenneth Jarman will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, in the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, with Pastor Terry D. White of Beacon Baptist Church in Niles officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, where full military honors will be presented by American Legion Post #51, Buchanan. Friends may call today from 6 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the DAV Chapter #55 in Niles.