Obituaries

Edward J. “Ed” Welch, age 87, of Sturgis, and formerly of Griffith, Ind., passed away Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011. Ed was the founder of Welch’s Stop-N-Shop in Griffith and St. John. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council, and the Griffith VFW. He a former member of the Griffith Chamber of Commerce and the Griffith …

Anna S. Mohney, 69, died Aug. 14, 2011. She was born April 22, 1942 in Chicago, Ill. to Mary (Gargano) Taylor and Samuel Taylor. She graduated from Lowrey High School in Dearborn and went on to study at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. After college, she went to work for Armstrong International in Three Rivers where she met her future …

Mary “Midge” Bethuram Norton, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, Aug. 17, 2011, at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born Oct. 10, 1922, in Richmond, Ind., a daughter to the late Lawrence and Ethel (Cash) Whalen. Mary was first married to Mack Bethuram, this marriage ended in divorce. On Nov. 6, 1976, in Sturgis, she …

June W. Bontrager, 75, of Constantine, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011 at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Grand Rapids on June 5, 1936, a daughter of William H. and Fern I. (Wadsworth) Hood. On July 7, 1951 June married Jacob C. Bontrager in Covington, Ky. Together they owned and operated Jacob’s Kountry Kitchen in …

Nancy E. Metzger, age 65, of Coldwater,, and a former Sturgis resident, passed away Thursday, July 28, 2011, at the Life Path Hospice House in Ruskin, Fla. Nancy was a graduate of North High School in Worcester, Mass., with the class of 1964. She continued her education at the Ollis Beauty Academy in Worcester graduating in 1965. On Dec. 10, …

Hazel Keller, age 93, of Savannah, Tenn., mother of former Sturgis resident Karen Ruhlig and mother-in-law of former Trinity Lutheran Church pastor the late Rev. Erwin A. Ruhlig, received her crown of glory Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Savannah. She was born June 28, 1917, in Blissfield, a daughter of the late Hermann August and Marie Ida (Bachendahl) Kittner. On …

Lois C. Hetmansperger, 94, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital in Sturgis. She was born June 12, 1917, in Spencerville, Ind., to the late Menno and Zula (Sponhower) Gerig. She married Duane F. Hetmansperger on Aug. 3, 1966, in the “Little Brown Church in the Vale” in Nashua, Iowa. He preceded …

Richard L. Rumps, 47, of Sturgis, died unexpectedly Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011, at his home. He was born July 2, 1964 in Detroit, a son of Richard L. and Fran (Rainwater) Rumps Sr. Richard had been employed by Jayco Inc. in Middlebury, Ind. He enjoyed fishing, boating, fireworks and being at the lake. He also enjoyed singing and listening to …

Esther Elizabeth Mohney, 101, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011 at the Heartland Health Care Center. She was born on April 6, 1910 in Adamsville, Cass County, the daughter of the late John and Katherine (Onkes) Neterer. Mrs. Mohney has been a lifetime resident of this area. She was a long time member of the First …

Grace M. Oldenburg, 80, of Mottville Township, White Pigeon, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo following an extended illness. Visitation will be Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Farrand Funeral Home, White Pigeon. Funeral service will be at Mottville Bible Church on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 3 p.m. with Rev. Michael Bender officiating. Interment …