Larry Gene Rayhill, age 79, of Sturgis, and a former resident of Elkhart and Mitchell, Indiana, passed away early Wednesday morning, April 15, 2026, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born October 31, 1946 in Mitchell, Indiana, son of the late Herschel McKinley and Ida Iva (Dye) Rayhill. Larry spent his early life in Mitchell and was a …

Donna Marie Sears, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo, surrounded by her loving family. Her passing leaves a profound emptiness, but her memory will forever live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. She was born May 9, 1957 in Williston, North Dakota a …

David Brian Arbogast, age 69, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.  He was born on August 2, 1956 the son of Lester and Etta (McMichael) Arbogast.  On January 28, 1984 David married the love of his life, Vickie Goodwin in LaGrange County. David loved the outdoors and spent as much time as he …

Celeste Noreen McWatters passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at just 12 days old. She was born on March 31, 2026, the beloved daughter of Lacey McWatters and Lonnie Williams, III. Though her time here was brief, Celeste left a lasting imprint on the hearts of all who knew and loved her. She was a …

Patricia Ann “Patty” Adams of Three Rivers passed away on Monday, April 13, 2026 at her home surrounded by her loving family, just a few days shy of her 100th birthday. She was born April 29, 1926 at home in Moorepark, the daughter of Wm. Russell “Jim” and Clelia (McKain) Bingman, and graduated from Three Rivers High School where she …

Donna Faye Flagel, age 87, was sent peacefully in her sleep to her eternal home on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Donna was born in Keeler Township, MI to the late Donald and Mildred Straw on September 2, 1938. Faye as she was affectionately known, was a warm shining light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing …

For several years, our readers have had the pleasure of taking a monthly journey through the rich history of Three Rivers—thanks to the thoughtful writing of Anna Smith. Through her “History & Mystery of Three Rivers” series, Anna brought our community’s past to life. From familiar streets and long-forgotten businesses to the people and places that shaped our town, her …

Every Village/Ward gave up their individual identity to form the greater City of Three Rivers. In becoming the City First Ward/Three Rivers, Second Ward/Lockport, Third Ward/Canada and Fourth Ward/Brooklyn gave up their names, powers, schools, and their small cemeteries. Bowman Park in 1893 at Hoffman & North Main was a cemetery and now a park that is home to the …

Norma L. Cobbs, age 93, of Middletown, Ohio, and a longtime former resident of Sturgis, passed away Saturday afternoon, April 11, 2026, at Arlington Point Care Center in Middletown. She was born October 25, 1932 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Sanford E. and Anna (Robbins) Kessler. Norma resided in Ohio for the past 15 years, coming from Sturgis where …

I’d like to take a moment and share a personal experience, and thank some great people for taking care of me during a time when I needed a little special attention. On Tuesday, April 7, I had just finished my “Heart Healthy” session at the Beacon Wellness Pavilion in Three Rivers. This group meets twice a week and we work …