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John Becker
Died March 12, 1999
John Becker, age 83, of Port Charlotte, Fla., and formerly of Branch, passed away Friday, March 12 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Port Charlotte.
John Becker was born June 18, 1915, in Branch, the son of Anthony and Mary (Svelnis) Becker. He grew up and attended County School in Branch. He moved to Detroit where he worked for Ford Motor Co. for several years, and later owned and operated Rite-Way Roofing Co., retiring in 1980. He was married Nov. 9, 1974, in the Detroit area to Florence E. Simpson and she preceded him in death on Nov. 15, 1995. The couple moved to Mason County following John’s retirement in 1980.
Surviving are two daughters, Lillian Senik of California, and Betty (and Dennis) Calkins of Talmoon, Minn.; one son, John (and Linda) Becker of Luther; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services for Mr. Becker are at 1 p.m. Friday, March 19 at the Stephens Funeral Home chapel, Scottville, with the Rev. Norman Letsinger officiating. Interment will follow in Bachelor Cemetery.
Jack C. Rasmussen
Died March 7, 1999
Jack C. Rasmussen, age 52, of Hart, died Sunday afternoon, March 7 at Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan.
Jack C. Rasmussen was born Sept. 18, 1946, in Hart, the son of Vance J. and Frances J. (Aiken) Rasmussen. He had lived in the area all his life and was a welder.
Surviving are his mother, Frances Rasmussen of Hart; nine sisters, Lorena (and Ron) Robbins of Hart, Marjorie Buckhalter of Hart, Karen Brimmer of Pentwater, Sharon Sibley of Hart, Debra (and Tim) McClelland of Hart, Denise Rittenhouse of Pentwater, Cathy (and Jim) Holcomb of Virginia, Terrie Bumstead of Grand Rapids, Brenda Rasmussen of Hart; four brothers, Vance Rasmussen of Branch, Larry (and Diane) Rasmussen of Hart, Dick (and Kathy) Rasmussen of Hart, and Mark Rasmussen of Mears; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Vance Rasmussen, and one brother, Ricky Rasmussen.
Services for Mr. Rasmussen will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 10 at Elbridge Community Church with the Rev. David Gray officiating. Burial will be at Elbridge Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 this afternoon and 7 to 9 this evening at the Tate Funeral Home in Hart.
Rhoda Larsen
Died March 16, 1999
Rhoda Larsen, age 44, of Sioux Falls, S.D., died Tuesday, March 16 following a lengthy illness.
Rhoda Alice Feather was born Dec. 31, 1954, in Koblenz, Germany. When she was a young child her family moved to San Fernando Valley in California. She graduated from Granada Hills High School in 1972. She worked for the Veterans Hospital in San Fernando Valley for three years.
She married Lavern Thomas Larsen in Pacifica, Calif., on Feb. 26, 1977. Afterwards they moved to the Grand Island area in Nebraska where they dairy farmed for a few years before moving to Sioux Falls in 1980. She worked for the Veterans Hospital there from 1980 to 1985. She worked five years with the U.S. Postal Service and in 1998 illness forced her to retire.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Jill Larsen of Sioux Falls, S.D.; her son, Robert Larsen of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and her sister, Michelle Feather of Sacramento, Calif.
She was preceded in death by her husband’s parents, Lavern and Fran Larsen, March 1 and 7 of this year, respectively.
Mass of Christian Burial from the Order of Christian Funerals for Mrs. Larsen will be celebrated a 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Simon Catholic Church with the Rev. Ken Schichtel as celebrant.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 this evening at the Dorrell Funeral Home where a scripture service will be held at 7:30 this evening with Rev. Schichtel.
Lavern “Red” T. Larsen
Died March 1, 1999
Lavern T. Larsen, age 83, of 6774 W. Jagger Road, Ludington, died Monday, March 1, at Mercy Hospital, Muskegon.
Lavern Thomas Larsen was born March 5, 1915, in Riverton Township, the son of Tom and Meta (Behr) Larsen. He graduated from Ludington High School with the class of 1933 and attended Mason County Normal, graduating in 1934. He then attended the University of Michigan for two years.
He was married on Jan. 8, 1942, to Frances Michaud and she survives. The couple celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this past January.
In August of 1942 he entered the armed forces and served with the United States Army in the European Theater. He returned home Dec. 22, 1945.
Red was employed by Dow Chemical Company for 31 years, retiring as rail transportation supervisor in 1980.
He was a member of St. Simon Catholic Church of Ludington, Lincoln Hills Golf Club, the Harold Snyder Post 30, Disabled American Veterans, and a life member of Ludington Lodge 736, BPOE. He enjoyed hunting, playing cards and working in his yard.
In addition to his wife, Frances, he is survived by one brother, William Larsen of Dansville; one sister, Lorraine Lund of Ludington; three sons, Lavern T. (and Rhoda) Larsen of Sioux Falls, S. Dak., Stephen W. (and Kathy) Larsen of St. Louis, Mich. and Michael (and Jody) Larsen of Canton; one daughter, Christine (and Mark) Barry of Saranac; seven grandchildren, Audra Larsen, Kelley Larsen, Rebecca Bradley, Eric Larsen, Kimberly Larsen, Robert Larsen, and Jill Larsen; two great-grandchildren, Christian and Alexandra, and nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Robert, and one sister, Mila.
Mass of Christian Burial from the Order of Christian Funerals will be celebrated for Lavern Larsen at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Simon Catholic Church with the Rev. Ken Schichtel, celebrant. Interment will be in Pere Marquette Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Dorrell Funeral Home from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. A scripture service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday with Father Schichtel.
Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Hospice of Mason County, the Ludington Area Catholic Foundation, or the charity of their choice. Envelopes are available at the Dorrell Funeral Home.
Lydia B. (Underwood) Wiles
Died Feb. 2, 1999
Lydia B. (Underwood) Wiles, age 95, of Oakview Medical Care Facility and formerly of Longfellow Towers, died unexpectedly at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Oakview.
Lydia Bushaw was born July 5, 1903, in Hart, and had lived in Mason County most of her life. She was married July 5, 1919, to Henry Underwood and he preceded her in death in 1958. She was then married to Frank Wiles and he preceded her in death. She was a member of St. Simon Catholic Church.
She was a cleaning lady, employed at Epworth, and a kitchen aid at the former Paulina Stearns Hospital. She loved raising chickens, gardening, flowers, reading and her children.
Surviving are three sons, Henry (and Evelyn) Underwood of Ludington, Richard (and Virginia) Underwood of Ludington, and James (and Marie) Underwood of Texas; two daughters, Mrs. Richard (Jean) Knudsen of Ludington, and Mrs. Gerald (Nancy) Kiel of Grand Rapids; one daughter-in-law, Susan Underwood; 21 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death, in addition to her husbands, by one son, Bernard Underwood, and two daughters, JoAnn Underwood, Elizabeth Yonkman.
Mass for Mrs. Wiles will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Simon Catholic Church with the Rev. Ken Schichtel as celebrant. Burial will be in Brookside Cemetery, Scottville.
Visitation is from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Alexander-Rye Funeral Home.
Memorials may be directed to Oakview Medical Care Facility with envelopes available at the funeral home.
Jane Switzer
Died March 12, 1998
Jane Switzer, 66, of Mears died Thursday, March 12, at her residence. The Tate Funeral Home of Hart is in charge of arrangements.
