We now have over 7,000 obituaries collected about the interred here at Silverbrook Cemetery.
The obituaries are transcribed by the volunteers of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery from various sources. If you see an opportunity for an addition or a correction, please email our obituary editor at obits@friendsofsilverbrook.org.
Marguerite W. Benjamin
May 24, 1907-June 26, 1998
NILES--Marguerite W. Benjamin, 91, of Niles Avenue, St. Joseph, formerly of Niles, died Friday in her home. She is survived by a brother, Donald Weaver of Niles. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Grace United Methodist Church, where friends may call one hour before services. Halbritter Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown
Ned E. Benjamin
June 5, 1928 - Dec. 7, 2001
Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 10, 2001, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Funeral services for Ned E. Benjamin, 73, of 2538 Juniper Ave., Niles will be Monday, Dec. 19 at 1:30 p.m. at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan. The Rev. Emmett Kadwell of Wesley United Methodist Church of Christ of Niles will be officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Benjamin died of natural causes Friday, Dec. 7 at 2:40 p.m. at Cass County Care Facility in Cassopolis.
Benjamin was born June 5, 1928 in Niles. He was a lifetime area resident. On Dec. 6, 1953, he married Maxine J. "Mickey" Heiermann in Buchanan. She survives. He was a veteran of the Korean War. He owned Ned's Meat Processing in Niles. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 26 in Niles and the Buchanan Moose Lodge.
Survivors (in addition to his wife) include: one son, Guy (and Becky) Benjamin of Niles; one daughter, Beth A. Benjamin of Niles; two grandchildren; two brothers, Erwin R. Benjamin of Buchanan and Daryl Benjamin of Niles; and one sister, Ruth E. Wolf of Niles.
Visitation was Sunday.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cass County Medical Care Facility or the Howard Township Fire Department.
ALSO
Ned E. Benjamin, 73, of 2528 Juniper Avenue, Niles, Mich., died at 2:40 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, in the Cass County Medical Facility, Cassopolis, Mich.
Ned was a Korean War veteran. He was also a member of Niles American Legion Post 26, Buchanan Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #449, and was a longtime member of the Howard Township Fire Department. Ned was the owner of Ned's Meat Processing of Niles. He had also worked at Williams Home Center, Wolahan Lumber and Cornwell Market.
Ned was born June 5, 1928, in Niles. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Clarence and Margaret (Cornwall) Benjamin; and by two brothers, Keith and Kay Benjamin.
On Dec. 6, 1953, in Buchanan, Mich., Ned was united in marriage to Maxine J. "Mickey" Heiermann, who survives. He is also survived by a daughter, Beth A. Benjamin of Niles; a son, Guy E. (Becky) Benjamin of Niles; a grandson, Bryan C. Benjamin; a granddaughter, Chelsey M. Benjamin; and their grand-daughter, Maxie; a sister, Ruth E. Wolf of Niles; and by two brothers, Erwin R. (Doris) Benjamin of Buchanan and Daryl J. (Joan) Benjamin of Niles.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with visitation from 3 to 7 p.m. today in the funeral home. The Rev. Emmett Kadwell will be officiating, with interment at Silvervrook Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cass County Medical Care Facility or to the Howard Township Fire Department.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown
Dorothy May Best
Oct. 5, 1935-Oct. 6, 1994
NILES - Services for Dorothy May Best, 59, of 1815 Miller Drive, who died at 5:28 p.m. Thursday in St. Joseph's Medical Center, South Bend, after an illness, will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Berrien County Cancer Services.
Mrs. Best was born Oct. 5, 1935, in Murfreesboro, N.C., and had lived in Niles for many years, coming from Murfreesboro. On Aug. 9, 1951, in Franklin, Va., she married William A. Best. He survives, with two sisters, Linda Myers of Murfreesboro and Joyce Jerdon of Salisbury, Md.; and 12 nieces and nephews. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown
William A. Best
Oct. 15, 1930 -- Dec. 24, 2004
William retired in 1952 from Clark Equipment Company in Buchanan. He was also employed by Kawneer, and owned and operated "Buddy's Place," a convenience store in Tunis, North Carolina.
He was born on October 15, 1930, in Rolton, North Carolina, to John Wesley and Frances L. (Little) Best. William has lived in Niles since 1952, coming from Franklin, Virginia.
On August 9, 1951, in Franklin, Virginia, he married Dorothy May (Green) Best, who preceded him in death on October 6, 1994. Also preceding William in death are four sisters, Juanita Davey, Ruby Corban, Ruth Russell, and Bessie Noble.
William is survived by two nephews, Gene (Cheri) Davey of Roberts, Montana, and Richard (Sandy) Corban of Niles; four nieces, Christine (Dave) Mitchell of Niles, Darlene (Warren) Watson of Niles, Janice (Walt) Breske of South Bend, Indiana, and Jean Leake of Niles. Several additional nieces and nephews also survive William. His companion, Linda Stenger of Niles and Special friend "Jake".
A time of sharing and remembrance will conclude the visitation at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, at 2 p.m. Tuesday December 28, 2004. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery Niles. Friends may call Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Pet Refuge.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown
Donna Mae Bickel
Oct. 16, 1924 - Nov. 20, 2006
Donna Mae Bickel, 82, of Huntly Road in Niles, passed away in Westwood Nursing Home early on Monday, November 20, 2006.
Donna was born on October 16, 1924, to the late Clarence and Viola (Wolford) Smith in Edwardsburg.
Donna was married to Burt Brown in 1945 and together they had two children; after their divorce, Donna wed Don Bickel at a ceremony in Niles.
Donna was a member of St. Peter's Lodge #106 F&AM Eastern Stars. She also loved fishing on Barron Lake.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don; son, Phillip Brown; one great-great-grandson; brother, Wolford "Boy" Smith; and sisters, Shirley Haney and Nancy Huven.
Donna is survived by her son, Gary (Loni) Brown; ex-husband, Burt Brown; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and a large extended family.
A time of visitation will be held on Sunday, November 26, 2006, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Brown Funeral Home in Niles where the service will follow at 1:00 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Donna will be interred at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Eastern Star of Edwardsburg.
To leave a message for the family, please visit www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com.
Arrangements have been made to Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Niles (formerly Pifer~Smith).
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown
Virginia Lee Biggs
April 30, 1920 - Dec. 6, 2003
She was born on April 30, 1920, in Hayti, Mo., to the late Bunk Anderson and Mini Mae (Creasy) Meek. On Aug. 22, 1935, in Pemiscott County, Mo., she married Walter Eles Biggs, who preceded her in death on April 18, 2002. She was also preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Nadine Minton; a stepson, Harvel Biggs; two sisters, Iceie Wilson and Hazel Bingle; and by a brother, James Meek.
She was a housewife and a member of Seventh-day Adventist Church, Buchanan, Mich.
She is survived by three daughters, Joann (Bill) Hunter of Phoenix, Ariz., Barbara (Fred) Bailey and Valda Skinner, both of Niles; three sons, Walter Lee (Doris) Biggs of Niles, Larry (Carol) Biggs of Indiana and Michael Biggs of South Bend, Ind.; a sister, Leatha Bell of Niles; three half sisters, Bonnie Coppock of California, Shirley Morgan and Brenda Glass, both of Hayti; and two half brothers, Bob Meek of Niles and Denver Meek of Tennessee; and by 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, in Seventh-day Adventist Church, Niles-Buchanan Road, Buchanan, with Elder Sheldon Seltzer and Pastor David Tenold officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Heart Association.
The Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles, is handling arrangements.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknownWalter E. Biggs
June 5, 1908 - April 18, 2002
Walter Eles Biggs, 93, of 1229 Thompson Road, Niles, Mich., formerly of 1805 Ferry Street, Niles, died of natural causes at 7:15 a.m. Thursday, April 18, in the Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.
He was born on June 5, 1908, in Leachville, Ark., to the late James Ranson and Nancy Lee (Valentine) Biggs. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Nadine Minton in 2000; a son, Harvel E. Biggs in 1991; and by two brothers, Arthur and Oscar Biggs.
He worked for Clark Equipment Company for 25 years, and was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Buchanan, Mich.
On Aug. 22, 1935, in Pemiscott County, Hayti, Mo., he married Virginia Lee Meek, who survives. He is also survived by three daughters, Joanne (Bill) Hunter of Phoenix, Ariz., Barbara (Fred) Bailey and Velda Skinner, both of Niles; three sons, Michael (Kathy) Biggs of South Bend, Walter L. (Doris) Biggs of Niles and Larry Biggs of Indiana; a brother, Lee Biggs of Colorado; and by 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. (Mich. time) Tuesday in the Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles, where Pastor Tony Rodriguez will officiate. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Heart Association.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown