Obituaries

Maybelle Beehler
May 17, 1900 – Jan. 5, 1957

Mrs. Maybelle (Webber) Beehler

Funeral services for Mrs. Maybelle Beehler, 2219 Yankee Street, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church. She passed away in Pawating Hospital Saturday after and illness lasting 18 months.

Mrs. Beehler was born in Milton Township, Cass County on May 17, 1900, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Webber. On Feb. 5, 1920 she was married to Wallace Beehler in Niles.

Survivors in addition to the father and widower include three daughters, Mrs. Clarence Bachman, Mrs. Frank Unger and Mrs. Johnny Swartz, all of Niles; a son, Richard W. Beehler at home; six grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. V.G. Burnett, Kensington, MD.

Mrs. Beehler was a member of St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church and of the Yankee Street Neighbors club.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home until noon Tuesday. The Rev. H. A. Meussling of St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church will officiate at services. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Published in Niles Daily Star, January 7, 1957.

Wallace Y. Beehler
May 30, 1898 – July 18, 1966

CASSOPOLIS – Wallace Y. Beehler, 68, Cassopolis, formerly of Niles, died suddenly in his home at 7:45 a.m. Monday morning.

He is survived by his widow Bessie. Also surviving are his children, Mrs., Clarence Bachman, Mrs. Frank Unger, Mrs. John Swartz and Richard Beehler, all of Niles

His step children, Mrs. Robert Richardson, Niles, Mrs. Milford Miller, Cassopolis, Mrs. Ward Barter also of Cassopolis, Darcey Steinman, Kalamazoo and six grandchildren also survives.

A brother, Harry Beehler and a sister, Mrs. George Reid, both of Niles, also survive.

Mrs. Beehler was born in Niles May 30, 1898. He retired from National Standard Co. three years ago.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev Arlan Schlundt pastor of St. John’s United Church of Christ, will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home

Published Niles Daily Star, July 19, 1966

Jessie M. Behm
Nov. 19, 1896-July 12, 1997

NILES--Jessie M. (Welsher) Behm, 100, of 1333 Wells St., died Saturday in Riveridge Manor. Survivors include three daughters, Barbara J. Smallwood and Dorothy Wegner, both of Niles, and Margaret Bash of Carthage, Tenn.; two sons, Jack Welsher of Niles and William Welsher of St. Joseph; and two sisters, Ruth Griffith and Wilma Atkins, both of Niles. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Darl K. Bender
Aug. 20, 1931 - Feb. 11, 1999

NILES - Darl K. Bender, 67, of Big Rapids, Mich., formerly of Niles, died Thursday in his home after an illness. Survivors include a daughter, Linda Quist of Niles; a son, Richard of Niles; three sisters, Doris Jaynes of Niles, and Clara Keeler and Yvonne Ravish, both of Winterhaven, Fla.; and two brothers, Gerald of Big Rapids and Bob of Midland, Mich.  Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation. The Halbritter Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Eleanor R. Benjamin
June 14, 1934-Dec. 7, 1994

NILES - Eleanor R. ''Ellie'' Benjamin, 60, of 111 Emmons St., died at 2 a.m. Wednesday in her home after an illness. Mrs. Benjamin was born June 14, 1934, in Muskegon Heights, Mich., and lived most of her life in Niles. On Sept. 3, 1955, in Angola, Ind., as Eleanor Romanski, she married James R. Benjamin. He died in November 1994. Surviving are two daughters, Patricia O'Brien of Niles and Dee Lyon of St. Louis; two grandchildren; her mother, Josephine Babcock of Buchanan; three sisters, Delores Lang of Muskegon, Mich., Virginia Reynolds of Buchanan and Bernice Hendershott of Niles; and two brothers, Joe Romanski of Buchanan and Sam Romanski of Niles. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Services will be at 9 a.m. Saturday in the church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where a prayer service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m.  Memorial contributions may be made to Salvation Army.

James R. Benjamin
May 26, 1933-Nov. 30, 1994

NILES - James R. Benjamin, 61, of 111 Emmons St., died about 2 a.m. Wednesday in his home after an illness. Mr. Benjamin was a retired lieutenant from the Niles City Fire Department, where he worked for 36 years, and was employed by Ironwood Displays. He was born May 26, 1933, in Niles and was a lifelong resident. On Sept. 3, 1955, in Angola, Ind., he married Eleanor R. ''Ellie'' Romanski. She survives with two daughters, Patricia O'Brien of Niles and Dee Lyon of St. Louis; two grandchildren; his mother, Dorothy L. Benjamin of Niles; and a brother, Robert C. of Bisbee, Ariz.  Mr. Benjamin was a member of American Legion Post 26 and Niles Elks. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 1 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles Salvation Army.