Anniversaries

Alfred P. and Ruth Keller celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Feb. 20, 2004, by a fellowship meal with church members and family at the Lewis (Ind.) Church. They have been members of the Lewis Church for 35 years.

Alfred P. Keller and Ruth Edelmon were married Feb. 28, 1934, in Bloomfield, Ind. Alfred has been a farmer and coal miner, retiring in 1972. Ruth has been a homemaker and home health aide.

The Keller family includes Phyllis and Herb Wrate and Roger Keller of Cory, Ind.; Charles and Melba Keller of Dayton, Ind.; Wilma Rasmussen of Walla Walla, Wash.; Francis and Harrel Shaver of Lexington, Ky.; Ronald Keller of Benton Harbor, Mich.; Sue and Kurt Williams of Paris, Ill.; 18 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Nickoli F. and Rose Nelsen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 20, 2003, by an open house at Bethel Center, Arpin, Wis. They have been members of the Bethel Church for 10 years.

Nickoli Nelsen and Rose Louis were married Dec. 20, 1953, in Minneapolis, Minn., by Pastor S.M. McCormick. Nickoli has been a piano tuner. Rose has been a seamstress and nurse aid.

The Nelsen family includes Fred and Doris Nelsen of Pittsville, Wis.; Joyce and Mike Ellenbecker and Reynold Nelsen of Arpin, Wis.; Daisy and Steven Nieman of Munising, Mich.; and 12 grandchildren.

Lester and LaSina Rilea celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 13, 2004, by a reception with family and friends in the fellowship room of the First Columbia (S.C.) Church. They were members of the Lansing (Mich.) Church for over 10 years.

Lester C. Rilea and LaSina M. Harrison were married May 17, 1954, in Collegedale, Tenn., by Rev. Wayne P. Thurbor. Lester has been a dean of men at Cedar Lake Academy and Adelphian Academy; directed the youth program for Wisconsin and Michigan conferences; and is presently working with military chaplains in the Southern Union. LaSina has been a homemaker; administrative assistant for Wisconsin and Michigan conferences; and is presently administrative assistant for her church.

The Rilea family includes Lester and Rhonda Rilea and Michael Rilea of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; Cheri and Greg Iverson of Rockwell, N.C.; and three grandchildren.

Obituaries

BEKOWIES, Geraldine E. (Butler), age 74; born June 6, 1929, in Onaway, Mich.; died Oct. 12, 2003, in Warren, Mich. She was a member of the Warren Church.

Survivors include her husband, Herbert F.; sons, Bradley and Kurt; sister, Mable Paulson; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted by Pastor David Glenn, and interment was in Cadillac Memorial Cemetery, Clinton Twp., Mich.

BEKOWIES, Rodrick F., age 52; born Oct. 4, 1951, in Warren, Mich.; died Mar. 6, 2004, in Warren. He was a member of the Warren Church.

Survivors include his wife, Helene (Bazyn); daughter, Suzanne M. Bekowies; father, Herbert F.; and brothers, Brad C. and Kurt H.

Memorial services were conducted by Pastors David Glenn and Paul Larsen, with private inurnment.

BOYS, Everett L., age 78; born Feb. 3, 1926, in Marion, Ind.; died Apr. 18, 2004, in Marion. He was a member of the Ephesus Church, Marion.

Survivors include his wife, Donna I. (Leffler); sons, David L., Stephen P., and Douglas C.; sister, Mary Baggarley; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted by Pastors Adrian M. Peterson, Paul Bryant, and Conrad Reichert, and interment was in National Cemetery, Marion.

CARPENTER, Dorothy "Dottie" (Gray), age 71; born Feb. 16, 1932, in Charlotte, Mich.; died Nov. 29, 2003, in Lansing, Mich. She was a member of the Charlotte Church.

Survivors include her husband Bruce R.; son, Michael; daughters, Catherine Kallioinen and Cris Carpenter; brothers, Donald and Joseph Gray; sister, Gertruide Gulyas; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Larry Yeagley, and interment was in Oakwood Cemetery, Hamlin Twp., Eaton Rapids, Mich.

HAGEMAN, James R., age 86; born Jan. 10, 1918, in Comptche, Calif.; died May 2, 2004, in St. Joseph, Mich. He was a member of the Village Church, Berrien Springs, Mich.

Survivors include his daughter, Betty Hageman.

There was a private inurnment.

HALVORSEN, Hall (George), age 86; born Apr. 14, 1917, in Volinia, Mich.; died Mar. 18, 2004, in Marcellus, Mich. He was a member of the Glenwood Church, Dowagiac, Mich.

Survivors include his sons, Marvin, Martin, Tom, and Jerry (J.D.); daughters, Janeane Wilson, Sharon R. Skinner, Ruth A. Benjamin, M. Marie McPherson, Linda A. Owen, and Connie Halvorsen; sister, Ida Rosenberg; 31 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were conducted by Marvin Halvorsen, and inurnment was in Crane Cemetery, Wayne Twp., Dowagiac.

HOSKINS, Russell, age 92; born May 8, 1911, in Glennie, Mich.; died Mar. 17, 2004, in Saginaw, Mich. He was a member of the Glennie Church.

Survivors include his brother, Arthur; and sisters, Esther Whitford, Wilma Dafoe, Edna Geyman, and Helen Hutchens.

Memorial services were conducted by Pastor Richard Mendoza, with private inurnment.

HOUPT, Helen M. (Schoepflin), age 90; born Apr. 2, 1914, in Edwall, Wash.; died May 4, 2004, in Jackson, Mich. She was a member of the Jackson Church.

Survivors include her daughter, Judy C. Wright; brother, Albert Schoepflin; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Gene Hall, and interment was in Fife Field Cemetery, Jackson.

KING, William S., age 86; born Aug. 16, 1917, in Alton, Ill.; died Apr. 30, 2004, in Niles, Mich. He was a member of the Pioneer Memorial Church, Berrien Springs, Mich.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy (Clayton); son, William; daughter Cecilia King; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted by Chaplain Chet Damron, and interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery, Berrien Springs.

KNOTT, Marie E. (Pfeifle), age 85; born Sept. 11, 1918, in Detroit, Mich.; died Mar. 6, 2004, in Ellijay, Ga. She was a member of the Village Church, Berrien Springs, Mich.

Survivors include her son, Tim R.; brothers, Richard A., Robert H., Gerald A., and David L. Pfeifle; and sister, Ellen O. Jordon.

Funeral services were conducted by Pastors James Peel, Dale McConnell, and Leonard Tessier, and interment was in the Ellijay Church Cemetery.

MOREL, Hollis A., age 89; born May 30, 1914, in Chico, Calif.; died Apr. 19, 2004, in Davenport, Wash. He was a member of the Pioneer Memorial Church, Berrien Springs, Mich.

Survivors include his wife, Lois K. (Long); son, Jeffrey N.; daughters, Darleen Parker, Marilyn Orcutt, and Cheryl Morel; and six grandchildren.

Memorial services were conducted by Pastor Theron Collins, and inurnment was in Greenville (Calif.) Cemetery.

POTTER, Emma M. (Bom) Kinsey, age 74; born June 17, 1929, in Louisville, Ky.; died Apr. 26, 2004, in Grandville, Mich. She was a member of the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Central Church.

Survivors include her husband, Richard; son, Allen Kinsey; stepsons, David and Thomas Potter; daughter, Deborah Coleman; stepdaughters, Janette Parsons and Diane Hosteter; brother, William Bom; sisters, Elizabeth Bernardi, Maurice Thompson, Kathy McDuffie, and Zita McKinney; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted by Pastor David Glenn, and interment was in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Grand Rapids.

RASMUSSEN, Elmer, age 82; born July 2, 1921, in Spangle, Wash.; died Apr. 9, 2004, in Turlock, Calif. He was a member of the Racine (Wis.) Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mary C. (Hess); son, Kenneth E.; daughter, Beverly Rasmussen; brothers, George, Lester, and Norman; and four grandchildren.

Memorial services were conducted by Elders Glenn Aufderhar and James Chase, and interment was in Lakewood Memorial Park Cemetery, Hughson, Calif.

SAYE, John W., age 82; born Aug. 24, 1921, in Oshtemo, Mich.; died Jan. 21, 2004, in Glendive, Mont. He was a member of the Pioneer Memorial Church, Berrien Springs, Mich.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia (Matthews-Redmon); son, Bert; daughters, Bernadine Saye, Patricia Gospodinoff, Judith Nelson, and Sandra Cassidy; brother, Harry; sister, Winfred Campbell; 16 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; four step-children; 13 step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Robert Crounse, and internment was in Spring Grove Cemetery, Bloomingdale, Mich.

VAN CONANT, Myrtle (Brimmer) Neitering, Wanamaker, age 75; born Aug. 10, 1928, in Belding, Mich.; died June 2, 2004, in Grand Rapids, Mich. She was a member of the Ionia (Mich.) Church.

Survivors include her sons, Tom Neitering; Roy, Terry, Roger, and Richard Wanamaker; and Otis and Timothy Van Conant; daughters, Judy Castillo and Cherie Smith; a half brother and half sister, names unavailable; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Karl Tsatalbasidis, and interment was in Greene Cemetery, Belding.