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December 27, 2001ObituariesBENZONIA - Douglas R. Rice, 91, of Benzonia, passed away at Munson Medical Center on Sunday.Douglas R. Rice was born in Joyfield Township, Benzie County on Jan. 7, 1910, the fourth child of James R. and Ella Gorivan Rice. On Nov. 30, 1933, he married Dorothy G. Worden and with her established Rice's Dairy, which served customers in Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Manistee Counties for 31 years. Later, they operated Rice's Ice Cream Shoppe in Beulah for ten years. Mr. Rice, a charter member and active in the Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club for nearly 50 years, was very proud of the contributions this organization made to its community. He served as president for one term and was active on the Boys and Girls Committee. He served on the Benzonia School Board for several terms and also served on the Board of Social Services of Benzie County for 32 years. During his tenure he worked very closely on the construction and operation of The Maples (Medical Care Facility) in Frankfort, a facility he believed provided a major and vital service to the area. Its staff has achieved statewide recognition for excellence, of which he was very proud. As well, he was an active member of the Benzonia Congregational Church, serving as a trustee and on several committees for many years. He headed the fund drive to build the current church building. He believed that the church had a responsibility to the community that he worked hard to fulfill. Mr. Rice was proud of his Irish ancestry, and particularly enjoyed his trip with his daughters to Ireland in 1998. He played golf for many years and was happy to have made a hole-in-one at the Frankfort Golf Club. He was also an avid gardener of vegetables and berries. In the last year of his life he lived at The Homesteader in Benzonia, where he received much loving care and comfort from the staff there. Mr. Rice was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Worden Rice; brothers, George and Lindsey Rice; and sister, Imogene Heinze. He is survived by three daughters, Marilyn (Richard) Laver, Julie (James) Bertch and Gayle (William) Hayes; seven grandchildren, Timothy Bertch, Julie Christensen, Michael Laver and David Laver of California; Christina Bertch of Arizona, and Matthew and Gwenyth Hayes of Michigan; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Joshua Bertch, Caitlyn Christensen and Mackenzie Hayes; his sister, Margaret Orr; his cousin, Mary Amer; and many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at The Bennett-Barz Funeral Home of Beulah on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday at The First Congregational Church of Benzonia at 2 p.m. The Rev. Stephen J. Davidson and the Rev. Telfer Mook will officiate. Burial will be at The Joyfield Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial gift to The Maples in Frankfort, The Homesteader in Benzonia, or a contribution to the Dorothy Worden Rice Scholarship Fund (in care of Benzie Central Foundation) which awards a music scholarship annually to a graduating senior. TRAVERSE CITY - Margaret "Maggie" Spiers, 73, of Traverse City, died Monday evening at her home. Maggie was born Oct. 17, 1928, in Detroit, the daughter of Richard and Emily (King) Armstrong and married Leslie C. Spiers on July 13, 1951, in Detroit. Maggie and her husband lived in Allen Park, prior to moving to Traverse City in 1980. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church and enjoyed antiquing and shopping. She is survived by her husband, Leslie; three sons, William (Mary) Spiers of Fairbanks, Alaska; James (Karan) Spiers of Allen Park and Mark (Dorinda) Spiers of Traverse City. Maggie is also survived by seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; and by a brother, Gordon (Jerry) Armstrong of Cape Cod, Mass. She was preceded in death by her parents and by a sister, Joan Campbell. Visitation will take place this evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, with the Rev. Lou Grettenberger officiating. Memorial contributions may be directed to Munson Hospice. TRAVERSE CITY - Ethel Lenora Brown, 77, of Traverse City, died Tuesday, at Birchwood Nursing Center. Born March 15, 1924, in Gregory, she was the daughter of Roy Rice and Lena Loretta (Meabon) Galbreath. Survivors include her children, David Blake, Eddie Brown, Jimmie Brown and Susan Graham; brothers, Carl Galbreath and Duanne Galbreath; 14 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Bobby Brown; her brothers Fred Rice and Roy Rice, and her sisters Eva Blake, Isabelle Delabuagh and Bertha Mustatia. Private family services have been held. Memorial contributions may be directed to a charity of choice. Arrangements were by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Nora Irene Brooks, age 87, of West Palm Beach, Fla., passed away on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2001, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Nora was born on Aug. 31, 1914, in Mayfield Township to the late Simon and Bertha Schuster. Nora resided in West Palm Beach, Fla. for many years and was employed by Rich's Ice Cream for 25 years. Nora is survived by one son, Clayton S. (Nancy) Brooks Jr. of Orlando, Fla.; one grandson, John C. Brooks of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and one great-granddaughter, Nora Dee Brooks of West Palm Beach, Fla.; two sisters, Marie Dean and Alta McConnell; and many loving relatives and friends. Nora was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton S. Brooks Sr.; two brothers and three sisters. Friends in Florida may call on Friday, Dec. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mizell-Faville-Zern Funeral Home. Mrs. Brooks will then be transferred to Traverse City for final rites and burial with the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. TRAVERSE CITY - Kristine S. Boike, 34, of Traverse City, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2001. Kris was born on Jan. 4, 1967, in Saginaw, the daughter of Robert L. and Jerrilyn S. (Rieder) Boike. Kris was a graduate of Traverse City Senior High School and Northwestern Michigan College, and was employed with the college since 1986. She believed in the Gift of Life. Kris enjoyed traveling, reading, cooking, crafts and time at home with her family and friends. Kris is survived by the love of her life, Dennis C. Svec of Traverse City; her mother, Jerrilyn S. Boike of Traverse City, her sister, Lisa Anne Boike of Lakewood, Ohio; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert L. Boike; her maternal grandparents, Norine and Fred Rieder; and her paternal grandparents, Leo and Charlotte Boike. Family will greet friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 28, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with the Rev. David Gabel officiating. Interment will be in Bethlehem Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Northwestern Michigan College Foundation in memory of Kris Boike. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes. FIFE LAKE - Elizabeth Barton, age 80, of Fife Lake, passed away on Christmas day at her home. Elizabeth was born on Sept. 25, 1921, in Alsask, Saskatchewan, Canada to Sidney and Verna (Scully) Gage. On Nov. 23, 1942, in Montrose, she married Howard Barton. Elizabeth grew up in the Flint area and then lived in Argentine until moving to Fife Lake in 1987. She was employed as a leather tailor in Fenton for 17 years. She enjoyed cooking, and finding new recipes in cookbooks to try, sewing, gardening, reading and doing crossword puzzles. She attended the Fife Lake United Methodist Church, and was a member of the Methodist Women's Group. She also worked diligently for the Care and Share Food Pantry in Fife Lake sponsored by the church. Elizabeth is survived by her two daughters, Charlotte (Frank) Blake of Fife Lake and Pamela (Gary) Goldner of Goodyear, Ariz.; two brothers, Emerson Gage of Escanaba and Edgar (Kewpie) Gage of Munising; one sister, Eleanore Shaw of Tucson, Ariz.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Howard on Nov. 23, 1986; her brother, Earl and an infant sister, Elaine. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002 at the Fife Lake United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Howard D. Seaver officiating. Memorial gifts may be made in memory of Elizabeth Barton to the Care and Share Food Pantry, c/o the Fife Lake United Methodist Church. Hall Funeral Chapel in Manton was in charge of the arrangements. TRAVERSE CITY - Josephine "Jo" Rose Adams passed away in the company of her children and grandchildren December 23. Her death followed a fall, which caused a hip fracture that required surgery to repair. Her parents; husband, Rusty; and son, Terry, preceded her in death. Jo was born March 22, 1912, in Traverse City to William and Rose Shane (Kratochvil). She attended Traverse City School, graduating in 1930. Jo and Rusty had four children, Terry, Russ, Ted and Sue. At the time of her death, she was the proud and loving grandparent of 17 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was "Grandma Jo," as well, to dozens of others whose lives she touched. Jo was a homemaker until 1953, when she went to work for J.W. Milliken. She was lingerie buyer for Milliken's when she retired in 1974. The next few years she lived with daughter Sue and family in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., helping raise two grandsons. In more recent years she wintered in California and spent summers in Traverse City at Silver Lake. Her enthusiasm and zest for life will continue to be an inspiration for family and friends. Visitation will be this evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday, Dec. 28, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Traverse City. The family requests memorial contributions be made to Munson Medical Center in lieu of flowers. LITTLETON, Colo. - Marilyn Lois Fowler, 75, of Littleton, Colo. and formerly of Irvine, Calif., died unexpectedly of a stroke, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. She was born Nov. 2, 1926, in Chicago, the daughter of Gregory and Marion (Zeller) Crisp, and grew up in White Plaines, N.Y. She graduated from The University of Michigan and was a proud member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She was a member of the University Women's Club and enjoyed gardening, traveling and her dogs. Marilyn especially loved spending time with her six grandchildren. Marilyn was employed as a Children's Services worker for Los Angeles County. Marilyn is survived by her sons, Chris (Colleen) Fowler of Traverse City and Gary (Meagan) Fowler of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; and by her six grandchildren, Marcus, Andrew, Erika, Nick, Carly and Joy. She was preceded in death by her parents. Service arrangements are pending and will be announced later. Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Heart Association, or to the Humane Society. The family was served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684. TRAVERSE CITY - Ken Olson, a widely known businessman in Traverse City and Northwest Michigan, passed away at home on Christmas Eve, with his wife, Mary Helen (Eoff) at his side, and surrounded by many children and grandchildren singing Christmas carols. Ken was born in Boyne City on Oct. 4, 1911, shortly after his parents, Erik John and Hazel Olson, moved from the predominantly Swedish settlement around Leroy and Tustin, just south of Cadillac. He grew up fishing with his father, enjoyed football and basketball, and played trumpet in the city and high school bands. He moved to Detroit after high school and married Mary Helen on May 5, 1936, (his wife for 65 years). He worked as a manufacturer's representative for 13 years with Bunte Candy Company. During World War II, he also worked as a night foreman at Vickers, a military parts plant. In 1946, he moved his young growing family to Traverse City and founded the Ken Olson Company, a wholesale distributor throughout Northern Michigan. At the age of 62, he started a third career in real estate sales with Klotzbach Realty, and later joined Real Estate One, where he thoroughly enjoyed working until 2000. He loved working and meeting people from all walks of life, and cherished their long lasting friendships. Ken was active with the Board of Traverse City Realtors, served as a state delegate, and was named Associate Realtor of the Year in 1977. He was a member of the First Congregational Church for the last 55 years, and served as president of its men's fellowship when the church was built at its present Center Road location. He was a long-term member of the Traverse City Country Club, an honorary member of Kiwanis International, and a lifetime member and organist of the Elks Club. Ken loved golf, hunting, fishing and playing piano, and he and Mary Helen were founding members of the Slab Town Jazz and Dixieland Society. Ken is survived by his wife, Mary Helen; his children, Karen (Sam) Mitchell, Ann (Charlie) Littlefield, John (Carolyn) Olson, Jim (Judy) Olson, all of Traverse City, and Rick (Joyce) Olson of Rochester; 13 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. A celebration service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational Church. The Rev. Dr. Gary Hogue will be officiating. Visitation with the family will follow the service in the church's fellowship hall. Memorial contributions may be sent to the First Congregational Church, 6105 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49684; the Music Memorial Scholarship Fund at Northwestern Michigan College, c/o the Music Dept., 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49684; or Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684. Arrangements are by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. "Ken is remembered for his love of family and friends, and his enthusiasm for life and the Grand Traverse region." CANCELLATION: the funeral services formerly scheduled for GERTRUDE E. BELLEVILLE, on Jan. 3, 2002 at 10 a.m. at The Presbyterian Church of Traverse City have been canceled. The family will reschedule for sometime in the spring or summer of 2002. CHARLES W. KUMMER SR., 74, of Traverse City, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2001. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 28, at the Pixley Funeral Home, Godhardt-Tomlinson Chapel in Keego Harbor. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29, at the funeral home. Interment will be in White Chapel Cemetery in Troy. ROXANNE (KOON) PURGIEL, 55, of East Lake, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2001, at West Shore Medical Center in Manistee. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29, at the Herbert Funeral Home in Manistee. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Cremation has taken place. CHRISTOPHER P. WIGGINS, age 22, of Benzonia, passed away on Monday, Dec. 24, 2001, at Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital in Frankfort. Arrangements are being handled by the Bennett-Barz Funeral Home of Beulah. |
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