Obituaries

Sandra Joyce Hecht, 69, of Sturgis, passed away early Friday, May 26, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospice Residence in Battle Creek. She was born Jan. 10, 1942, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Earl V. and Doris M. (Palmer) Deal. Sandi was a lifelong resident of Sturgis and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1960. …

Dorothy M. Sowles, 81, of Sturgis, and formerly of Hobart, passed away peacefully at home Friday, May 27, 2011. She was a lifetime Hobart resident until her retirement in 1993 to Sturgis. Dorothy was a gym teacher at Ridgeview Elementary in Hobart for many years. She was also employed as a bank teller at Century Bank and Trust in Sturgis …

Dorsey Ferguson, 60, of Union, died Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at his home. He was born in Maryville, Tenn. on Jan. 20, 1951 the son of A. Lloyd and Opal (Heaton) Ferguson. The family moved to Mendon in 1961. Dorsey graduated from Mendon High School in 1969. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a military policeman and was …

Joseph Franklin Dobberteen, 88, of Albuquerque, N.M., and a former longtime Sturgis resident, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2011, at his home. He was born May 31, 1922, in Sturgis, a son of the late Henry and Ella Dobberteen, Joe lived a good portion of his life at Klinger Lake, enjoying life as a caddy, avid golfer (five holes in one), …

Harriet Elizabeth Wilhelm Jackson completed her exceptional life of almost 98 years on this earth on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. Harriet was born on June 25, 1913 in Bluffton, Ind. to Fred and Anna Wilhelm. She was a loving sibling to her brother Paul and sister Jean, both of whom preceded her in death. And she was saddened that she …

Jean F. Sayer, 82, of Three Rivers, passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Park Township on Feb. 19, 1929 the daughter of George R. and Fannie (Thompson) Rhodes. Mrs. Sayer has been a lifelong resident of this area. On March 8, 1947 she was united in marriage to …

Henry Donald Ritter, age 93 of Coldwater, and formerly of Colon and Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at The Laurels of Coldwater. Don was born Jan. 7, 1918, in Monroe, Ind., a son of the late Quincy O. and Elva May (Zerkle) Ritter. He married Ruth C. Saunders in 1940. He later married Carole Schmidt in 1972 in …

Norma L. Beckwith, 86, of Three Rivers, passed away on May 20, 2011 at the Thurston Woods Nursing Care Facility in Sturgis. She was born on Nov. 23, 1924 in Deer Creek Township, Ind. the daughter of Dean H. and Zulah G. (Miller) Adams. Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; one brother, Jack Adams. She …

Richard D. “Dick” Parsons, 53, of Constantine, died unexpectedly Sunday, May 22, 2011, of natural causes at the family residence. He was born Oct. 15, 1957, in Three Rivers.  He graduated from Constantine High School in 1976.  Richard was a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers, the Indy 500, and the winter and summer Olympic Games. He worked for …

Pearl A. Blank, age 86, of Centreville, died Monday, May 23rd, 2011 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. Pearl was born in Three Rivers on April 11, 1925 a daughter of  Elbert and Bertha (Peck) Ruggles.  On December 5, 1942 Pearl married Donald E. Blank in Three Rivers. He preceded her in death September 16, 2002. Pearl worked …