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Maurice D. “Morrie” Beals
Maurice D. “Morrie” Beals, age 68 of Eaton Rapids, died Tuesday, October 2, 2002, at his residence. Morrie was born January 19, 1934 in Eaton Rapids, the son of the late Earl Lewis and Nellie M. (Henry) Beals. He served in the National Guards from 1952 until 1961. Maurice worked at Beckland and Arnold IGA as a manager and at Schafer Bakery. In 1968, he and his wife, Sally, opened the Beal’s Party Store, which they operated until 1977. He returned to Schafer Bakery until his retirement in 1990; Maurice served as a voluntary fire fighter in the Eaton Rapids Fire Department from 1966 to 1981, was an Emergency Medical Technician from 1988 to 1990 and was credited with saving many lives. He also served as Captain in the Eaton Rapids Township Fire Department. Morrie bowled in the American Bowling League until earlier this year. He also bowled in the Peterson Classics in Chicago. He played golf, but only as a sport, and stated that his handicap was his drive. He was fondly nicknamed “one bullet Morrie” because he never shot his gun during the forty-five years that he deer hunted with the Eaton Rapids Fireman.
Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Sally (Schmidt); his sons, James William Beals, Stephen (Karina) Beals all of Eaton Rapids; 2 grandsons, Stephen Jon, Jr. and Timothy Johnston; brother, Harry (Kaye) Beals of Milford, Pennsylvania; “special” mother-in-law, June (Francis) Kipp of Eaton Rapids; brother-in-law, Thomas (Joyce) Schmidt of Fort Wayne, Indiana, “special” sister-in-law, BJ (Lee) Bragg of Eaton Rapids; numerous nieces and nephews, including his “special niece” Lori Brochu of Potterville. He was preceded in death by his 2 sisters, Ruth Robertson, Lois Smith and his father-in-law, Reverend William Schmidt.
The family visited with friends and family and a Memorial Service was held at the Eaton rapids Church of the Nazarene on Monday, October 7th, with Rev. Dallas McFarland officiating. Contributions may be made to the Eaton Rapids Fire Department, Eaton Rapids Township Fire Department, Hamlin Township Fire Department or the American Cancer Society attention Lori Brochu at 1755 Abbey Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823.
Harry Beard
Harry D. Beard, 92, of Nashville, died Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 at Eaton County Medical Care Facility.
Mr. Beard was born Sept. 4, 1910 in Nashville, the son of Francis and Nettie (Cazier) Beard. He was raised in the Nashville area, and married Rachel Smith on April 16, 1931. His employment included the former Lentz Table Company, Nashville Stamping Co., Randall Lumber Yard, E.W. Bliss Company, Maple Valley Schools, and the Post Office in Vermontville. Mr. Beard was an avid fisherman, enjoyed doing crafts, and years ago square dancing and “calling” square dances.
He is survived by his wife, Rachel; daughters, Kathryn Painter of Battle Creek, Barbara Sitzman of Ashland, Ohio, Betty Lou (Earl) Hooghouse of Charlotte, Janet (James) Jarman of Nashville; son, Phillip (Elsie) Beard of Bellevue; grandsons raised by Harry and Rachel, Harry (Sandy) Rollins of Parma, Ohio, and Larry (Rae) Rollins of Nashville; 21 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter, Joy Lynn Hooghouse; brothers, Tom, George and Francis Beard; sister, Flossie Evans, Myrtle Moore and Ethel Rodriguez. Services were held Oct. 19 at Maple Valley Chapel in Nashville, with granddaughter Pastor Vickie Taylor officiating. Interment was at Millerburg Cemetery in Carmel Township, Eaton County.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Harry D. Beard Memorial Fund.
Louise Marie Beck
Louise Marie Beck, age 73 of Eaton Rapids, died Wednesday, June 12, 2002 in Charlotte. Lou was born January 26, 1926 in Eaton Rapids, the daughter of Clarence and Ella Lenora (Watkins) Dandurand. She was a member of the Island City Bowling Association, the Eaton Rapids and Onondaga Senior Centers. Mrs. Beck was preceded in death by her husband, C. Ray Beck in 1993; daughter, Shirley Cords in 1996 and grandson, Dean Harder.
Surviving are her daughter, Jan (Michael) Phillips of Eaton Rapids; 2 sons, Kenneth (Linda) Beck, Merle (Shirley) Harder, Jr. both of Mason; 4 grandchildren, Michael Phillips, Shawn Beck, Kristina Beck and Michael Harder.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 15, 2002, at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids with Rev. Robert Betts officiating. Interment followed at Rosehill Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. Those desiring may make contributions to the Eaton County Medical Care Facility Activities Department in memory of Louise Beck.
Richard S. Beechler
Richard S. Beechler, former owner of the Rapids Bowl in Eaton Rapids and Eaton Theatre in Charlotte, died Monday, Dec. 2, 2002, at his home in Venice, Fla. He was 75.
Mr. Beechler was born Oct. 4, 1927 in Charlotte, and retired in 1990 to Venice, Fla., where he was a member of the Venice Yacht Club and a former member of the Venice Sailing Squadron. He was a U.S. Navy veteran from 1945 to 1947. He attended the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Venice.
Survivors include his wife, Clara of Venice; two daughters, Amy Wolbert of Grand Rapids and Betsy King of Central Lake; two sons, Greg of New York City and David of Upper Montclair, N.J.; eight grandchildren; a sister, Patricia Guest of Perrysburg, Ohio and a brother, Cash of Gainesville, Fla.
A memorial service will be held at the Congregational Church in Charlotte on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Rapids Public Library or a charity of one’s choice. Arrangement were by Lemon Bay Funeral Home.
Faith Beiser
Faith M. Beiser, age 95 of Eaton Rapids, died Thursday, May 30, 2002 in Dimondale. She was born August 23, 1906 in Flushing Township, MI, one of 9 children of Irving M. & Elsie M. (Batchelor) Vernon. Faith was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids and the Miriam Circle. She received the Eaton Rapids Community Hospital 25 Year Pin for serving as a Red Cross Volunteer. She was a charter member of the Garden Club, life member of the Eaton Rapids OES #241, a member of the U & I Club and a member of the Eaton County Retired Teachers Association, having taught a year in country schools. Faith was preceded in death by her husband, Mack J. Beiser in 1968.
She was the best mom in the whole world to her daughter, Beverly J. (Jim “Dick”) Dison of East Lansing and son, Wayne E. (Nancy) Beiser of Lansing. Also surviving are 2 grandchildren, Terry Beiser of Jackson, Taune DeBolt of Jackson; 7 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; 3 brothers, Paul Vernon of Petoskey, Wendall Vernon of Kalamazoo, Bruce (Barbara) Vernon of Sturgis; sister, Mary Tobey of Owosso; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Monday, June 3, 2002 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids, with Pastor Tom Evans and Rev. Dr. Douglas Vernon officiating. Interment followed at Rosehill Cemetery, Eaton Rapids. An OES service was held Sunday at 7 p.m. Those desiring may make contributions to either the First United Methodist Church or The Eaton Rapids Medical Foundation in memory of Faith Beiser. “Heaven must be a better place with the arrival of our mom and best friend.”
Harold E. Benedict
Harold E. Benedict, 92, of Vermontville, passed away Monday, Sept. 9, 2002 in the care of his family at his home.
Mr. Benedict was born Aug. 25, 1910 in Sunfield Township, the son of Ernest and Etta (Walsh) Benedict. He married Edith Van Blarcom in 1934. Edith and Harold spent 64 years together at the family farm north of Vermontville on Round Lake Road until her death in 1998. Together they had eight children, 27 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Mr. Benedict attended Bismark United Methodist Church, then the Vermontville United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Bismark Farm Bureau Community Group and the Bismark Community Boosters. He enjoyed all aspects of farming and liked to travel. He was an accomplished carpenter, electrician, plumber and mechanic. Mr. Benedict had a practical and innovative approach to handling any problem. He was elected to the Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame in 1994.
He is survived by his eight children, Bruce (Carol) Benedict, Merial (Sunil) Das, Mary Jo (Robert) Brimmer, Iris (Leroy) Wion, Cherry Adams, Karen (David) Rishel, Brian (Lorraine) Benedict, Brenda Gillons; brother, Carroll (Barbara) Benedict; and dear friend, Madelyn Forest.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith; sister, Helen Steward; son-in-law, Fred Adams; and grandchildren, Mari Helen and Robert Harold Brimmer.
Funeral services were held Sept. 12 at Sunfield United Methodist Church, Maple Valley Scholarship Foundation or Bismark Community Boosters. Arrangements were by Rosier Funeral Home, Mapes-Fisher Chapel, in Sunfield.
Elizabeth T. Berchtold
Elizabeth T. Berchtold, 86, of Charlotte, formerly of Harbor Beach, Mich. And Pennsylvania, died Sunday, May 12, 2002 at Hospice House of mid Michigan in Lansing.
Mrs. Berchtold was born Aug. 2, 1915 in Philadelphia, Pa., the daughter of Arnold and Clara (Schellenberg) Tiernan. She had been employed as a newspaper reporter for the Delaware County News in Pennsylvania and also worked for the Catholic Cemeteries in Philadelphia, Pa. While in Harbor Beach, she was a member and Eucharistic minister of Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church and also served on the Altar Society. She was a member of the Harbor Beach Senior Group, the Garden Club, the Historical Society and an associate member of AM-VETS. She was currently a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte.
She is survived by two sons, John (Brenda) Berchtold of Charlotte and William (Linda) Berchtold of Darby, Pa.; one daughter, Elizabeth (Harold) Laurence of Havertown, Pa.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Berchtold; son, Vincent Berchtold; and daughter, Mary Anne Berchtold.
At Mrs. Berchtold’s request, cremation has taken place. A memorial mass was held at May 15 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte, with Rev. Fr. Denis Spitzley officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Charlotte District Library. Arrangements were by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Markus L. Bergey
Markus L. Bergey, 17, of Lansing, died June 29, 2002 after a long battle with cancer.
Markus was born May 17, 1985.
He is survived by his mother, Dawn Bergey; grandmothers, Nancy Sump and Grandma Bergey; one brother and sister; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, lots of friends and adopted family members.
Funeral services were held July 2 at Gorsline-Runciman Co. Lansing Chapel. Interment was at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Dimondale.
