Obituaries

Thelma Grace (nee: Swartz) Howard, age 94, of Three Rivers, and Zephyrhills, Fla., passed away on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at Three Rivers Health following a brief illness. She was born in Three Rivers, on May 17, 1916, the daughter of Harley and Effie (Buck) Swartz. Thelma has been a long time resident of the Three Rivers area. She was …

Ruth R. Lewis, age 100, of Centreville, passed away Friday, November 19, 2010 a the Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in Centreville. She was born in Cook County, IL on December 14, 1909,  the only child of Walter A. and Velma D. (Dunnington) Hall Ruth grew up on a farm near Centreville and graduated from Centreville High School in 1928. …

Steven Lloyd Hanes, Sr., age 62 of Three Rivers, died Friday Nov. 19, 2010 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born in Three Rivers on July 5, 1948 the son of Lloyd H. and Wilda (Bowman) Hanes and was a lifetime resident of the Three Rivers area. He attended Three Rivers Schools before serving with the U.S. Army …

Ronald Sean Wyckoff age 44, of Centreville, passed away Friday, November 12, 2010, in Hollister, California. He was born is Fresno, California, on February 24, 1966, to Ronn and Cathie (Notar) Wyckoff. Sean graduated from Centreville High School in 1984, and Glen Oaks Community College in 1986. On June 20, 1986, he married Ladena Marie Kirby in Centreville.  Sean loved …

Joyce L. Blanchard, age 75, of Swartz Creek and a former longtime Sturgis resident, passed away Thursday evening, Nov. 18, 2010, at Genesys Health Park in Grand Blanc. She was born June 25, 1935, in Anderson, Ind., a daughter of the late Paul and Mary (Dailey) Bedford. Joyce had resided in Sturgis her whole life with the exception of the …

Justin Lee Shafer, 37, of Overland Park, Kan., passed away suddenly on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. He was born in Kalamazoo on Oct. 5, 1973 the son of Jay Harrison Shafer and Debra Lee Johnson. Justin graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1991. He was active in football and track and field and …

Marcia L. Frain, 63, of Constantine, died on Nov. 5, 2010, at her home. There will be no visitation; cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at a later date. The Farrand Funeral Home, White Pigeon, is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth V. DuFour, age 91, of Cassopolis, died Monday, Nov. 15, 2010 at Cassopolis Health Care Facility, Cassopolis. She was born Dec. 11, 1918 in Porter Township to George and Verna (Ryan) Hall. She married Allen DuFour in Elkhart on Nov. 24, 1943. He preceded her in death on June 17, 1978. She was also preceded in death by her …

Marlan J. Benthin, 83, of Marcellus, passed away Saturday morning, Nov. 13, 2010 at his residence following an illness. He was born June 5, 1927 in Schoolcraft, the son of Wilfred and Mary E. (Pursel) Benthin. On Sept. 15, 1950 in Schoolcraft he married Ilene A. (Inman) Benthin who survives. He has lived at his present residence for the past …

Helen Frances Lyons, 79, of Sturgis, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, at her home, after an extended illness. She was born June 5, 1931, in Sturgis, a daughter of Fred and Alma (Brothers) Holtz. She was a 1949 graduate of Sturgis High School. She had lived in the Sturgis area all her life. She owned the family farm for the past …