Obituaries

Fred Smith Jr., 87, of Bronson, died Sunday, July 17, 2011, at his home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Pleasant Hill Missionary Church, with Pastor Terry Siler of First Congregational Church officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Noble Township. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Dutcher-Kolcz Funeral Home …

Alberta Bogen, 83, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Sunday afternoon, July 17, 2011, at her home. She was born Dec. 27, 1927, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late John and Cora (Sargent) Ritter. Alberta was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1946. On Jan. 26, 1952, she married Donald Bogen …

Barbara K. Dilley, 59, of LaPorte, Indiana, died peacefully at 4:48 p.m. Sunday, July 17, 2011, at IU Health LaPorte Hospital. She was born Feb. 25, 1952, in Three Rivers, MI, to Robert Sr. and Gwen Goodwin. Mrs. Dilley was a homemaker who lovingly cared for her family and grandchildren. On April 8, 1972, in Three Rivers, she married Mark …

Thelma Pauline Benson, 92, of Ossian, Ind. and formerly of Three Rivers, passed away late Friday, July 15, 2011 at the Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind. She was born on July 7, 1919 in Flowerfield Township, St. Joseph County, the daughter of Arunah and Leda (Heartland) Gage. Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, and her late husband, …

Virginia R. McNew, age 78, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Thursday afternoon, July 14, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born June 22, 1933, in Detroit, a daughter of the late Maurice and Ruth (Dee) Hunter. On June 14, 1951, she married Edward B. McNew in Monroe. Virginia was devoted to her husband, children, grandchildren and great -grandchildren. She is …

Cheryl L. Gump, 66, of Burr Oak, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at Community Health Center of Branch County. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pleasant Hill Missionary Church in Bronson, with Pastor Paul Metzger officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Bronson. Visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. and 5-8 …

Emma Louise Kerns, age 85, of Burr Oak, Michigan passed away early Thursday morning June 23, 2011 at the Sturgis Hospital. She was born December 7, 1925 in LaGrange County, Indiana a daughter of the late Franklin J. and Irene (Johnson) Friend. Emma had resided in the Burr Oak area for over 40 years. Her early life was lived in …

Betty L. Hovarter Velie,  age 88, of Centreville, passed away Tuesday, July 12th, 2011 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Kendallville, IN on March 8, 1923,  a daughter of  Ralph and Leota (Loucks) Hill. Betty graduated from Centreville High School in 1941 and received her LPN degree from Glen Oaks Community College in 1971. On September …

Kenneth E. Broker, age 71, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, July 10, 2011, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.  Kenny was born Nov. 12, 1939 in Colon Township, a son of the late Frank and Emma (Thrams) Broker.  Kenny grew up in Colon and attended Colon schools. He later moved to Sturgis, where he lived all his adult life.  On …

Lillie Jean Delp, 88, of Colon, passed away, Friday, July 8, 2011, at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers.  Jean was born Oct. 29, 1922, in Sherwood, a daughter of the late Harry Abel and Letha Fay (Freeland) Murphy.  On June 12, 1939, she married Mervel A. Delp in LaGrange. He preceded her in death Sept. 1, 1998.  Jean had lived …