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Berton H. Erzen
Berton H. Erzen, age 56, of 1205 South Sherman St., Ludington, died unexpectedly Saturday, Feb. 16.
Berton was born July 14, 1945, in Saginaw, the son of Matthew James and Helen Elizabeth (Enos) Erzen. Bert attended Ludington High School, graduating with the class of 1963.
He was married June 21, 1969, in Ludington to Susan Marie Comstock and she survives.
Bert served with the United States Air Force just prior to the Vietnam era and was a member of the Ludington Moose Lodge and the Moose Legion. He was the chairman of the local Moose golf league and had served as Governor of the Moose.
He was employed by Harrington Tool for the past 15 years, and in his free time he enjoyed hunting, golf, traveling, and especially his grandchildren.
In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by his daughters, Lonna (and Richard) Oomen and Lynnette (and Aaron) DeCauwer, both of Elkhart, Ind.; his son, Michael Erzen of Ludington; his grandchildren, Ryann Oomen and BayLee DeCauwer; his brothers, Donald Erzen and Matt Erzen, both of Ludington; and one sister, Helen “Punky” (and Stephen) Storm of Ludington. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister-in-law, Diana L. Erzen.
The funeral for Bert will be conducted 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Dorrell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Christensen officiating. Interment will follow in Lakeview Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 this evening at the funeral home where the Moose will conduct a memorial service at 8 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to Bert’s family with envelopes available at the Dorrell Funeral Home.
Ora Galen Blocher
Ora Galen Blocher, beloved husband and dear father, age 98, passed away Sunday, Feb. 17 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor.
He was born March 5, 1903 on the family farm in Eden Township, Custer, to Edmond and Eliza Ann (Royer) Blocher, their only child. He was married Oct. 31, 1928 in Bowling Green, Ohio to Blanche Gertrude Saxton, the daughter of Richard Alvin and Laura Mae (Brovont) Saxton, who preceded him in death Feb. 25, 1998.
To this union were born four children, all of whom survive: Beverly Diane (William) Lawther of Ypsilanti, Don Allan (Betty) Blocher of Phoenix, Ariz., Robert Lee (Barbara) Blocher of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and Eric Lynn Blocher of Superior Township.
He is also survived by his grandchildren: Diane, Jeffrey (Linda) and Rebecca Lawther, all of Ypsilanti; Kathleen (John) Toth, Steven (Pamela) Blocher and Joseph (Casandra) Blocher, all of Phoenix; Vicky (James) Kemp of Camano Island, Wash., Mark (Elisa) Blocher of Frisco, Texas, David (Elisa) Blocher of Dallas, Texas, and Kristine Blocher of Lake Havasu City. Also surviving are 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1926 with a BSE degree in aeronautical engineering, one of only seven graduates in that discipline for the year. After graduation he worked as a designer for Hess Aircraft (1926), Curtiss-Wright (1928), Ford Motor Co. (1928-29), Hise Aircraft (1931-33) and Stout Engineering (1933); as a project engineer for GM Research Corp. (1926-28); as a design engineer for Stinson Aircraft (1933-34); as a chief engineer for Verville Aircraft (1929-31), Aerocar Co. (1934-38) and Stout Aircraft (1943-44); as an executive engineer for Stinson Aircraft (1943-44) and the Bendix Corp. Experimental Aircraft Division (1944-46); and as a research engineer for the University of Michigan Willow Run Labs (1946-68), from which he retired.
He, along with his wife, Blanche, loved to garden, raising vegetables and flowers, at one time having over 250 different named bearded iris.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight at Stark Funeral Service Moore Memorial Chapel in Ypsilanti. Visitation will also be from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 22 at Alexander-Rye Funeral Home in Ludington. The funeral service for Mr. Blocher will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Alexander-Rye Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Custer.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider donations to the charity of their choice.
Mrs. Betty Jane Fogarty
Mrs. Betty Jane Fogarty, age 79, of Ludington passed away Monday, Feb. 18 at Oakview Medical Care Facility in Ludington.
Betty was born March 19, 1922, in Ludington, the youngest child of Robert and Minnie (Coleman) Jamieson. She attended Ludington School, and on Aug. 12, 1941, married Myrle Fogarty of Ludington. Myrle preceded her in death in 1965.
Betty enjoyed her family and caring for her husband and five daughters. She was a local artist, and painting was her passion. She owned Betty Fogarty’s Art Studio in Ludington until her vision failed.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and three sisters. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughters, Patricia (Richard) Stahl of Indianapolis, Ind., Beverly (Gordon Veldman) Fogarty of Pentwater, Bobbi Fogarty of Grand Rapids, Mary (Eugene) Harmon of Custer, and Nancy (Danny) Johnson of Ludington; her grandchildren, Deborah (Howard) Hall of Atlanta, Ga., Eugene Harmon Jr. of Kalamazoo, Bridgett (Reggie) Fox of Lansing, Ramona (Daniel) Owusa of Lansing, Jada (Anthony) Neely of Portland, Ore., Tiffany (Bryan) Fleming of Belleville, Nichole (Bryan) VanNiman of Kalamazoo, Danielle Steiger of Grand Rapids, and Ryan Stahl serving with the Peace Corps in the Ukraine.
Funeral services will be held for Betty 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Stephens Funeral Chapel in Scottville with Dr. J.D. Johnson officiating. Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Ludington. The family will meet with friends Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until time of services at the funeral chapel.
Those who wish to make memorial contributions are asked to consider the American Lung Association.
Glen W. Bentz
Glen W. Bentz, age 80, of Ludington died Feb. 15 at the Oakview Medical Care Facility following an extended illness.
Glen was born Dec. 30, 1921, in Amber Township, the son of William and Bertha (Adams) Bentz. He was married on Nov. 3, 1945, in Ludington to Maxine L. Eichler and she survives. The couple celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary this past November.
Glen was a hard worker and was employed over the years by Laird Construction Company in Amber Township, the Shoe Factory, the Austin Construction Company, Continental Motors in Muskegon, and the Mason County Road Commission. From 1946 to 1948 he worked for Campbell Wyant and Cannon in Muskegon. In 1948 Glen went to work for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Systems where he worked for 36 years, retiring as a first mate on the City of Midland in 1983. He made his last trip across Lake Michigan on June 23, 1983.
His free time was spent hunting, fishing and woodworking.
In addition to his wife, Maxine, who provided loving care for him during his long illness, he is survived by three daughters, Glenda (and Terry) Fox of Cadillac, Gwen Baxmeyer of LaPorte, Ind., and Glenette (and Jerry) Keson of Farwell; four grandchildren, LeAnne Fox Bush, Adam Baxmeyer, and Andrew and Jeffrey Keson; and one great-grandson, Gregory Michael Bush. He is also survived by his sister, Marie Thurow; his brother, Richard Bentz; his sister-in-law, Marie Bentz; his brother-in-law, Fred (and Lucille) Eichler, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.
The funeral for Glen W. Bentz will be conducted 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Dorrell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mr. B. Douglas Niemi of Bethany Lutheran Church officiating. Interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from noon until the time of service.
Jeannette E. (Bette) Schoenmaker, age 73, of Ludington, passed away quietly Tuesday evening, Feb. 19 at Tendercare of Ludington following a lengthy illness.
She was born on March 18, 1928 in Ft. Wayne, Ind. She graduated from J.W. Sexton High School in Lansing in 1946 and attended Michigan State College. On May 13, 1950 she married Norman Schoenmaker in Lansing, and he survives. The couple moved to Ludington in 1980 from Owosso.
Bette was a member of the Community Church of Ludington. She was a former Brownie and Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher, a member of the Visitation Circle and O.A.K.S. Women’s Society of the church. She gave over 2, 000 hours as a hospital volunteer. She was also a member of the West Shore Art League and several other social groups. Bette enjoyed sewing, knitting, needlepoint, ceramics and painting. She was very outgoing and a giving wife who always cared for others.
She was a former telephone operator and medical librarian and worked at Dr. Swartz’s office in Ludington.
Surviving are one daughter, Jenne (and Jim) Uhlik of Cabot, Ark.; one granddaughter, Amy ( and Lt. Joseph) Roach of Dayton, Ohio; two great-grandchildren, Becca and Noah Roach; one brother, Robert Snyder of Clark Lake, and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert M. and Jeannette Ridenour Snyder; a sister, Sally George; a granddaughter, Rebecca Ann Uhlik, and all of her aunts and uncles.
Funeral services for Bette will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Community Church in Ludington, the Rev. Rich Loerop officiating. Visitation will be on Friday, Feb. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Alexander-Rye Funeral Home. Burial will be in Rockford.
Memorials may be directed to the Michigan Lupus Foundation with envelopes available at the funeral home or the church.
Forrest S. Reed
Forrest S. Reed, age 75, passed away Feb. 2 in Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield, N.J.
Forrest was born Oct. 26, 1926 to Perry and Maggie Reed in Pentwater where he spent his school years.
He was an Army veteran of World War II and served in Japan from 1945 to 1949. He was a merchant seaman for a number of years, then retired in 1992 from New Penn Motor Express as a New York inter-city truck driver after 25 years.
He married Mary Pinzelik in New York City in May 1952. She preceded him in death in April 1987. Two brothers also preceded him in death, James of Muskegon and Richard of Benton Harbor.
Mr. Reed was an usher, Holy Name Society member, and Catholic Youth Organization volunteer at St. Mary’s Byzantine Rite Church in New York City. He also was a member of the Garden Club at Covered Bridge in Manalapan, N.J., where he lived.
Survivors are a son, James (Maureen) of Englishtown, N.J.; a daughter, Dianna (Ray) Cassidy of Scotch Plains, N.J.; five grandchildren who were the light of his life; three sisters, Sylvia (Bill) Van Brocklin of Pentwater, Wanda (Ted) Jeffries and Janet (Joe) Geisler, both of New Era; and a brother, Glen (Sharon) of Hillman.
Betty M. Brown
Betty M. Brown, age 79, of 3940 W. Kistler Road, Ludington, died Tuesday, Jan. 22 at Memorial Medical Center following an apparent aneurysm.
Betty Marion Lindquist was born May 29, 1922, in Ludington, the daughter of John Fredrick and Edith Sophia Hildegarde (Johnson) Lindquist. She grew up in Ludington and graduated from Ludington High School.
She was married to George Ellsworth Brown on Aug. 22, 1942. Her husband of almost 60 years survives.
Betty was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church where she had been Sunday School secretary for over 35 years. She was also a member of the women’s society and the choir, taught vacation Bible school and served on many church councils.
In her free time, she enjoyed participating in swimnastics at West Shore Community College.
Her greatest joys in life were times shared with her family and she will be sadly missed by her husband, Ellsworth; her daughters, Janice (and John) Hill of Madison, Ala., Cathy (and Ronald) Kudich of Westerville, Ohio, Nancy (and Jay) Hill of Portage, and Wendy (and Timothy) Marek of Custer; her sons, Bruce (and Christine) Brown and Wayne (and Kathy) Brown, both of Ludington; her grandchildren, John (and Janice) Hill III of Sparta, Todd (and Michelle) Hill of Hudsonville, Julie (and Tom) Benjamin of Dorr, Brad and Barbara Brown of Ludington, Robert (and Abby) Kudich of Jacksonville, Fla., Jeanne Kudich of Columbus, Ohio, Jason Hill of Knoxville, Tenn., Amy Hill of Saginaw, Kristen Brown and Kendra Brown of Ludington, and Kimberlee and Sara Marek of Custer; her great-grandchildren Jasper, Jackson, Tessa and Elise Hill, Alexis Benjamin, and Connor and Jeffrey Hill and Hunter Brown; her sister, Winifred Anderson of Montgomery, Ala.; and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marilyn and Donald Bierman of Louisville, Ky.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Lindquist and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Edison and Marie Brown.
The funeral for Betty M. Brown will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dennis Slattery officiating. Interment will be in Center Riverton Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Dorrell Funeral Home this afternoon and evening from 3 to 7 p.m.
Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are asked to consider St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Envelopes are available at the Dorrell Funeral Home.
