Obituaries

Sheldon R. Norton, 70, of Three Rivers, died Monday, June 13, 2016 at his home. He was born in Three Rivers on Sept. 25, 1945 the son of Dale A. and Victoria M. (Sales) Norton. Sheldon is a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Korea and during Viet Nam. He had been employed as a grocery store manager, and …

Alfred T. Biland, 88, of White Pigeon, passed away Thursday, June 9, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born Oct. 3, 1927, in Clay Township, St. Clair County, a son of Alfred O. and Doris M. (Grant) Biland. He joined the Merchant Marines in 1945, traveling to Naples and Venice, Italy on supply delivery and troop transport …

Sharon Bastian, 70, of White Pigeon, died on Monday, June 13, 2016 at her home. She was born in Kalamazoo on September 25, 1945, a daughter of Mary (Koeing) Skinner. She attended Portage Schools. On December 14, 1963, she married Dennis Bastian in Lawton. Sharon previously worked in housekeeping at Hope Nursing Home in Lawton. Sharon is survived by her …

Larry Carter, born Aug. 21, 1936, Houston, Miss. Larry passed away in Redmond, Wash. on May 17, 2016 surrounded by his family. Larry graduated Three Rivers High School, Class of 1954. He played four years of basketball and baseball. His parents are Etoile Martin and George F. Carter, Sr. After high school, Larry worked a year at Armstrong Machine Works. …

Larry “Bubba” Bidelman of Decatur slipped peacefully into Jesus’s hands early Monday morning, June 6, 2016. Larry is survived by his wife, Elizabeth D. Bidelman; children, Rob (Jessica) Bidelman, Steve (Eileen Gallagher) Bidelman, Laura (Sam Grear) Stensland, Douglas (Amanda) Hattan. Grandchildren, McKenna, Maya, Carter, Emma, Zac, Parker, Sara, Drew and Riley. Brothers, Patrick Bidelman and Mark (Doreen) Bidelman. Very special …

Carl A. Pinkerton, age 73, of Constantine, passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at his home. He was born on August 26, 1945 in Three Rivers the son of Luther and Ocia (Sell) Pinkerton. In accordance with Carl’s wishes cremation has been conducted and there will be no public services held at this time.

Robert Kent Johns, age 73, of Three Rivers passed away on Monday, May 23, 2016.  He was born in Three Rivers on August 11, 1942 the son of William and Effie (Evans) Johns. Kent was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers.  He was employed as a private commercial jet pilot for many years.  He accumulated over ten thousand flight hours …

Dolly Mae Meyer, age 68, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly Monday, June 6, 2016, at her home. Dolly was born April 13, 1948, in Woodburn, Ind., a daughter of Thomas and Pauline (Clevenger) Beemer. She graduated from Quincy High School in 1966 and then continued her education at cosmetology school in Battle Creek. On June 10, 1967, she married Raymond …

Donna Marlene (Wright) Vickrey, 85, 1804 Ocean Ave., #111, Boynton Beach, FL, 33435, passed away on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. Donna was born on May 17, 1931 in Galesburg, Ill., the daughter of George and Clariece Wright. She attended Three Rivers High School, graduating in 1949. She was united in marriage to Charles Vickrey on Feb. 9, 1957 in the …

Walter Raymond “Walt” Neale, age 80, of Three Rivers, died Monday, June 6, 2016 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born in Kalamazoo on Nov. 23, 1935 the son of Thomas and Edith (Beardsley) Neale. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1953, and later served in the U.S. Navy. Walt was married to Sharon J. Bos …