Obituaries

F. Betty Krontz, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away early Thursday morning, Feb. 27, 2020, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born Aug. 2, 1931, in Howe, Ind., a daughter of the late Franklin J. and Irene (Schull) Friend. Betty was a longtime Sturgis resident. Her early life was spent in Indiana, where she was a graduate of …

Dennis Jones, age 63, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly in the early hours of Monday, February 24, 2020 at his home.  He was born on June 26th, 1956 in Belding, MI to Jim and Jeanette Hulliberger. Dennis was an area business owner for over 30 years where he employed countless individuals and was known as an honest, kind, and …

Peggy L. Preston, age 73, of Constantine, passed away on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka.  She was born in Goshen on March 10, 1946, a daughter of Robert and Barbara (Funkhouser) Emmert. Peggy graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1964.  On July 10, 1965, she married Dennis Scheibelhut in Mishawaka; he preceded her …

Ethel Beatrice Hoffine left this world on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Ethel was beloved by many and will be deeply missed. She had a feisty spirit, indomitable courage and a huge heart. Born Oct. 1, 1931, to Ferdinand “Fred” and Beatrice (Lings) Dost, in Chicago, Ethel Beatrice Dost moved with her parents and two brothers, Fred and Roy, to Burr …

Doris Mae Noragon, age 86, formerly of Sturgis and Colon, passed away Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. Doris was born March 3, 1933, in Garrett, Ind., a daughter of the late Paul and Violet (Oberlin) Chapman. On Sept. 30, 1950, she married Robert Noragon. Doris had lived most of her life in the …

Mary Belle Spence, 56, of Sturgis, died on Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born April 26, 1963, in Sturgis, a daughter of Jim and Emma (Sandrock) Campbell. Surviving are a daughter, Gennie Spence; four sons, Jon Kinney, Bobby Spence, Clifford Spence and Andy Spence; her mother, Emma Sandrock; two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Wesley; …

Lucille Heath, age 87, of Lake Wales, Florida, died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 in Lake Wales. She was born in Vicksburg, Michigan on April 3, 1932 the daughter of the late Ray and Alta Briggs. She was married to Ronald Heath on Dec. 12, 1954 in Angola, Indiana. They resided in Richland, Michigan before moving to Florida in 1984. Lucille …

Shelly Jean Weber, age 61, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday afternoon, February 23, 2020 at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. She was born November 2, 1958 in Whitley County, Indiana daughter of the late Howard Jay and Wilma Arlene (Householder) Weber. Shelly resided in Sturgis for the past year coming from Elkhart. She enjoyed music, had a love for cats, …

Violet J. Spence, age 88, of rural Three Rivers, died on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 at White Oaks Assisted Living in Lawton surrounded by her family. She was born in Knoxville, TN on June 4, 1931 the daughter of John R. and Mary O. (Crowe) Gentry. She graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1949. She was married …

Robert James Babcock Jr., age 66, of Chapin, SC, formerly of Union, MI, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, February 22, 2020. He was born January 26, 1954 in South Bend, a son of Robert and Sheila (Gustafson) Babcock Sr. Robert graduated from Constantine High School in 1972. On June 23, 1973 he married Carla Creakbaum in Elkhart. Robert …