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January 26, 2003ObituartiesWILLIAMSBURG - Gary E. Helms, 34, of Williamsburg, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003, in Kalkaska.He was born Feb. 8, 1968, in Royal Oak, the son of George and Eileen (Roberts) Helms. Gary graduated from Unionville-Sebewaing High School in 1986. He served our country in the U.S. Army during the Persian Gulf War from 1990 until 1994. Gary graduated from Northwestern Michigan College with an associate degree in metallurgy. He was employed by Bay Shore Construction and Cahill Construction of Traverse City. Gary enjoyed bowling, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. Gary is survived by his parents, George and Eileen Helms of Williamsburg; his brother, Eric G. (Linda) Helms of Anchorage, Alaska; and his niece, Michelle Kelly of Anchorage, Alaska. Visitation will be held today from 2 to 6 p.m. at Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27 at St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church in Kalkaska. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given in behalf of Gary E. Helms to St. Mary of the Woods Building Fund, 0438 County Road 612 NE, Kalkaska, MI 49646 or to the Cherryland Humane Society, 1750 Ahlberg Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686. Arrangements were made by Wolfe Funeral Home. RAPID CITY, S.D. - Dwayne Allen Brodin, 34, of Rapid City, S.D., passed away Friday, Jan. 17, 2003. He was born Aug. 3, 1968, in Charlevoix and spent a great deal of his childhood in Charlevoix, Ellsworth and East Jordan. Dwayne settled in Rapid City, S.D. and was employed as an appliance repair technician. Survivors include his four children, Kelly and Alex Brodin of Rapid City, S.D., and Brett and David Brodin of Box Elder, S.D.; his father, Gary Brodin Sr. of Charlevoix; his brothers, Gary Brodin Jr. of Muskegon, Steven Brodin of Traverse City and Mathew Dillon of Bozeman, Mont.; his sisters, Teresa Work of Traverse City, and Tonya Brodin of Charlevoix. Dwayne was preceded in death by his mother, Joyce Ann (Yettaw) Bakker on May 19, 1988, in Rapid City, S.D. Services were held Monday, Jan. 20, at Valley Open Bible Fellowship in Black Hawk, S.D. with pastor Nathan Ennis officiating. Dwayne was very loved by many extended family members and his friends. We all miss him greatly. In accordance with his wishes, his ashes are to be joined with those of his mother in Charlevoix in the summer of 2003. WILLIAMSBURG - Margaret E. Beckwith, 83, of Williamsburg, died Friday at Munson Medical Center. A lifelong resident of Williamsburg, Margaret was born Jan. 7, 1920, the daughter of Clyde and Mildred (Gee) Dean. She graduated from Elk Rapids High School in 1936, and then attended and graduated from the Detroit Business Institute. On May 16, 1941, at the Dean family home in Williamsburg, Margaret married Kenneth "Pete" Beckwith. For the past 62 years, Margaret had been a member of the Williamsburg United Methodist Church and was a very active member of the United Methodist Women's Group. She served as Whitewater Township Clerk from 1973 until her retirement in 1990. Margaret is survived by her daughter, Carol (Jim) Hockin of Williamsburg, and two sons, Milton "Cap" (Sandra) Beckwith of Williamsburg, and William (Adriana) Beckwith of Big Rapids; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Pete Beckwith on Sept. 10, 2001. Memorial services will be held Saturday, Feb. 1, at 3 p.m. at the Williamsburg United Methodist Church with the Rev. Douglas L. Pedersen officiating. Friends may call at the church Saturday from 1 p.m. until the time of the services at 3 p.m. Burial will take place in Circle Hill Cemetery. At Margaret's request, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 5750 Williamsburg Rd, Williamsburg, MI 49690. Arrangements are being handled by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Traverse City. TRAVERSE CITY - Donald M. Basford, 85, of Traverse City, died Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, at the Leelanau Memorial Hospital Long-term Care Facility. Don was born Aug. 23, 1917, in Fremont, to Melbourne and Grace (Aldrich) Basford. He grew up in the area and graduated from Fremont High School in 1935. Don served his country in the U.S. Air Force, 5th division, during World War II. He was stationed in the South Pacific for four years and was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Star, Unit Citation Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal and a Bronze Star Medal. After his military service, Don moved to Appleton, Wis. in 1952. On Dec. 27, 1952, he married Alice Marie Toogood in South Bend, Ind. The couple resided in Appleton, Wis., where Don was employed as an electrician with Local 577 IBEW, prior to his retirement in 1979. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Appleton, Wis. Upon his retirement, Don and Alice moved to the Traverse City area. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Traverse City. Don is survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father; his wife, Alice M. Basford; and his sister, Mary Evelyn Truman. A memorial service is planned for the spring of 2003, and will be held at the First Congregational Church of Traverse City. The date and time of the service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes. ELK RAPIDS - Bernice A. Pitkin, 97, of Elk Rapids and Royal Oak, passed away Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. She had resided under the loving care of the staff at Northwood Village Care Home of Elk Rapids since November 2002. Bernice was born May 4, 1905, in Cass Township, Hancock County, Ohio, the daughter of Albert and Louella (Cooper) Insley. She grew up on a farm outside Arcadia, Ohio, and attended Arcadia High School, where she played first violin in the school orchestra. Although only 5 feet tall, she was captain of both the baseball and basketball teams. Bernice was also the president of her senior class. Following graduation from high school, she attended Bowling Green University, majoring in home economics. Bernice then transferred to Findlay University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration. It was in Findlay, Ohio, that Bernice met and married Dwight L. Pitkin on July 26, 1930. Dwight was then the editor of the Findlay Courier newspaper and then joined the Associated Press (AP). The couple then moved with Dwight's new position to Frankfort, Ky., where he covered the Kentucky Capitol. Their only child, Nancy, was born in Frankfort, Ky. In 1937, Dwight accepted a foreign assignment with the AP to cover the Spanish Civil War and the family moved to France with a two-week notice. At the end of the civil war the family moved to Madrid, Spain, for a year and then on to London. When the "Blitz" began in London, the AP evacuated Bernice and Nancy. Although she spoke no French or Spanish, Bernice, in her quiet and efficient way, managed to get through France and Spain and then sailed from Lisbon to the states. Dwight remained in London as a war correspondent with the AP covering World War II. Bernice and family moved to Royal Oak in August 1949, and while Dwight covered the automotive labor negotiations for the AP, Bernice became the bookkeeper for the First United Methodist Church in 1952. She retired at the age of 70 in 1975, but remained active in the church she loved. Bernice bowled with the church's Ladies Bowling League until she turned 90. She loved the church youth and she and Dwight were sponsors of the MYF in the early 1950s. After her retirement, she volunteered every summer from 1969 to 1981 as a cook for the church's music camp. Bernice was a dedicated volunteer for William Beaumont Hospital and was at the front information desk on Saturday evenings for over 25 years. It was a commitment that she took great pride in and it was difficult to lure her astray on a Saturday night. Bernice is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy Sue and Robert E. Reid, M.D. of Royal Oak and Elk Rapids; three beloved grandchildren that she was very active in raising; Laura Jean Cameron (Craig R. Cameron, D.D.S.) of Ravenna, Sue Ann Parisi, D.D.S. (Michael J. Parisi) of Royal Oak, and Robert E.P. Reid, M.D. of Royal Oak; three cherished great-grandchildren, Michael Robert and Jennifer Sue Cameron of Ravenna and Michael Reid Parisi of Royal Oak; and her brother, Robert Howard "Bill" Insley. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband for whom she never stopped grieving, Dwight L. Pitkin in October 1968; her sister, Nina Graham; her brother, Walter Insley; and her sister-in-law, Alice Insley. Visitation will be held today from 2 to 6 p.m. and on Monday, Jan. 27, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Kinsey-Garrett Funeral Home, 420 S. Lafayette, Royal Oak, (248) 541-4400. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the First United Methodist Church, 320 W. 7th St., Royal Oak, with the Rev. Marshall G. Dunlap officiating. Visitation at the church will be held Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in White Chapel Memorial Cemetery in Troy. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 320 W. 7th St., Royal Oak, MI 48067; William Beaumont Hospital Foundation, 3601 W. 13 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, MI 48067; Munson Healthcare, 1105 6th St., Traverse City, MI 49684; or to the Elk-Skegemog Association, Elk, Rapids, MI 49629. Arrangements by the Kinsey-Garrett Funeral Home, Royal Oak. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in Traverse City in celebration of the life of DOY M. BAKER, who passed away Dec. 4, 2002, in Sun City Center, Fla. Arrangements were handled by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. GLENDA (BEHM) LARSON BERNACIAK, 69, of Manistee died Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, at her home following an extended illness. There will be no visitation. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the First Congregational U.C.C. Church in Manistee. The family is being served by the Johnson Funeral Home, P.C. in Manistee. MELVIN L. PLUM, 80, of Charlevoix, died Saturday morning, Jan. 25, 2003, at his home. Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at the Winchester Funeral Home in Charlevoix. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the First Congregational Church of Charlevoix. Arrangements by Winchester Funeral Home, Charlevoix. FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Lita Marilyn Hagen Oltman, 73, died Dec. 7, at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she had been a patient since September. Lita was born Oct. 19, 1929, in Northport, the daughter of Anna Laura (Garthe) and John Hagen. Her grandfather, Isaac Garthe, came to Northport from Gartronnigan (Surnadal), Norway, in July 1867. Her father arrived in Northport from Broskehagen (Stangvik), Norway, in 1896. Lita graduated from Northport High School in 1947. She received a bachelor of arts degree in literature, science and arts, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Michigan in 1951. On Aug. 6, 1952, Lita married John H. Oltman at Bethany Lutheran Church in Northport. The couple celebrated their golden anniversary with family and friends last summer. A 35-year resident of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Lita was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church, where a memorial service took place Dec. 14, 2002. Her service to the church included the Music and Worship Committee, altar guild, choir, Couples Club, and Vacation Bible School. Lita's varied employment history included picking cherries at the Garthe family farm in the 1930s, Linotype operator at the Leelanau Enterprise, and dining hall service at the University of Michigan in the 1940s. She was a homemaker in the 1950s through the 1970s, and a legal secretary at the firm of Oltman & Flynn in Ft. Lauderdale throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Lita is survived by her husband John H. Oltman of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; her son, David K. Oltman of Orlando, Fla., her daughter, Laura G. Oltman (Michael Newman) of Phillipsburg, N.J., and her son, John K. (Sue) Oltman of Atlanta, Ga.; and granddaughters, Amy and Kristi. She also is survived by sister, Esther Yeates of East Lansing and Frankfort; and brothers, Isaac Hagen of Northport, Grant Hagen of Arlington, Va., and Franklin Hagen of Celina, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her father in 1952; her mother in 1974; her sister, Joan Munro in 1983; and her brothers, Frederick Hagen in 1925, and James Hagen in 2000. Burial will take place in Northport in the summer of 2003. A guest book may be signed online at www.legacy.com. Contributions in Lita's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 525 W. 14th St., Traverse City, MI 49684. TRAVERSE CITY- Henry Smith, 86, of Traverse City and formerly of Lansing, died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at Munson Medical Center. Henry was born Oct. 2, 1916, in Belgium, the son of Gustuaf deSmet, known in America as Steven Smith and Maria (Mortier) Smith, known here has Mary. Henry served our country overseas during World War II with the U.S. Army. He married Isabel Starmer in Lansing, on June 25, 1949. He retired from Lansing Public Schools as a mechanical maintenance supervisor and in 1976, Henry and his wife Isabel moved to Traverse City. He enjoyed all types of sports, including hunting, fishing, football, baseball, bowling and walking, but his greatest enjoyment were his grandchildren. He also was a member of the VFW. Henry is survived by his wife of 53 years, Isabel (Starmer) Smith, of Traverse City; his son Gary and his wife Beth of Portage, his granddaughter, Casey Smith and grandson, Steven Smith, both of Portage; and many nieces and nephews. Henry was preceded in death by his parents. Memorial services will be planned for the spring. Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society, 525 W. 14th St., Traverse City, MI 49684. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. TRAVERSE CITY - Dawn Nielsen Lohr, 74, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002, after a long illness. She had lived in Traverse City for five years, moving from Evanston, Ill. in 1997. Dawn was born June 26, 1928, to the late Victor and Phyllis Nielsen in Oakland County. On April 16, 1955, she married Thomas O. Lohr in Port Huron. She grew up in Port Huron and graduated from Port Huron High School in 1946, and the Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing in Detroit in 1949. Dawn worked as a registered nurse in Detroit and Hyannis Port, Mass. and after her marriage, worked for her husband's medical practice in Saginaw. Dawn returned to nursing after her children were grown and worked in Saginaw, Park Ridge, Ill. and Evanston, Ill. She enjoyed her family, studying anthropology and archeology, gardening, collecting antiques, shopping for bargains and traveled extensively around the world. Giving freely of her time, talents, and energy, Dawn committed herself to supporting the causes she believed in. Throughout her life, she was a member, supporter, and volunteer for a number of organizations including Alcoholics Anonymous, the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Saginaw Valley Peace Watch, National Abortion Rights Action League, the Saginaw Art Museum, First Presbyterian Church of Saginaw, and Howard Brown Memorial Clinic in Chicago. She is survived by three children, Thomas (Zurich Esposito) Lohr of Chicago, James (Kimberly) Lohr of Traverse City and Elizabeth (Scott Haun) Lohr of Tucson, Ariz.; two sisters, Barbara Carson of Port Huron and Patricia (Gerald) Hegenauer of Saginaw; one brother, Robert L. Nielsen of Port Huron; one grandson, Robert J. Lohr; three stepgranddaughters, Megan, Katie and Aaron, all of Traverse City; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Dawn was preceded in death by one son, Robert N. Lohr in 1977; and one sister, Sally Nielsen in 1998. Memorial services will be held in the spring of 2003. Contributions in Dawn's memory may be made to a favorite charity. Arrangements are by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.
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