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Lelia Fern Smiley
ARGOS — Lelia Fern Smiley, 75, of Argos, died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 at 6:28 a.m. at her
residence following a brief illness.
She was born Dec. 28, 1933 in Mishawaka to Charles William Lewis Henry and Mable Hulda
(Cox) Henry. She has lived in the Argos Community since 1988, coming from St. Joseph, Mich.
She married
Jimmy Lee Smiley Jan. 19, 1952 in Plymouth. For several years she was the owner
and operator of the “Royal Sundae” in St. Joe, Mich., and later was the manager of the
Woolworth’s Store Restaurant in Fair Plain, Mich.
Lelia had spent 16 years with the Plymouth Historical Society Genealogy group were she and
Jimmy traced their family finding her half-brother Evan Barden and Jimmy’s mother's parents.
Lelia was also an avid quilter.
She was a graduate of the LaPaz High School class of 1951, and a member of the North Lincoln
Baptist Church in St. Joseph, Mich.
She is survived by her husband Jimmy Smiley; two sons: James Smiley (Shelia) of Briarbush,
Ala. And William Smiley of Jones, Mich.; two daughters: Nancy Smiley of Plymouth and Connie
(George) Bradford of Plymouth; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister,
Bernice Green of Elko, Nev. She was preceded in death by her parents and 12 siblings.
Friends may visit with the family Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Earl-Grossman Funeral
Home, 208 N. Michigan St., Argos.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the funeral home with Chaplin Tom
Padberg officiating.
Burial will take place at Rochester I.O.O.F. cemetery, Rochester.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care; 112 S.
Center St., Plymouth, IN, 46563
Arrangements have been entrusted with the Earl-Grossman Funeral Home, Argos.
Eva Benedict
ARGOS — Eva Louise Benedict, 90, formally of rural Argos, passed away peacefully from this
life into eternal life Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009 at Bremen Health Care Center.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” Psalm 116:15.
She was born in a farmhouse on the Fulton/Marshall County line road on Oct. 18, 1918. Her
parents were the late Dean and Fern (Roose) Nellans.
Eva was named after Miss Eva Wingert, a former Argos teacher. She worked hard as a child
and often recalled standing on a chair to make cakes for the hired hands on the farm.
She graduated from Richland Center High School in 1936 where she was awarded the Good
Citizenship Award. She then attended Manchester College. She graduated from a two-year
normal course, received her life teaching license, and later received her B.S. Degree from
Manchester College in 1962.
Later, she married
a high school classmate and the love of her life, Clinton E. Benedict Feb. 21,
1942 in a stone farmhouse just south and east of Argos. They were blessed with 53 years of
marriage.
Eva taught elementary school in Marshall and Fulton counties for 24 years. She was a member
of the Indiana and National Retired Teachers Association.
Her mother, two daughters and a granddaughter have been educators for four generations
totaling more than 120 years! She was proud of her teaching family.
Since her husband served in World War II, she proudly displayed a star in her window for nearly
five years. They wrote to one another daily.
Clinton served in the Army at Fort Hayes near Columbus, Ohio where she taught Bible School
and they both taught Sunday School classes. Her husband served as a Chief Warrant Officer in
the “European Theater of Operations”.
He served in England, France, and Italy.
She was very creative and enjoyed baking, gardening and traveling.
She made it possible for her family to vacation in California, the Grand Canyon, Florida, the
Black Hills, the Great Smokey Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and Yosemite and Glacier
National Parks.
She was a member of Argos Bible church and the “31” Home Economics Club.
Eva was a very loving and devoted mother to her two daughters: Mary K. Goller (David) of
Mishawaka and Linda L. Overmyer (David) of Tippecanoe. She dearly loved her two
granddaughters: Lisa M. Overmyer of Virginia and Melissa M. Yoho of Mishawaka. Also
surviving is a great granddaughter, Emma Grace Buszkiewicz.
In addition, one cousin, Ruth Schrader of Chesterton, and several nieces and nephews are
surviving.
Her husband, Clinton E. Benedict; parents, Dean and Fern Nellans; and her brothers: Dee D.
and Robert K. Nellans preceded her in death.
Eva’s family wishes to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude for the wonderful care
given to her by Dr. Jason Marker and the Bremen Health Care Center.
The Earl-Grossman Funeral Home in Argos is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be
at the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9.
The funeral will be Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. in the Argos Bible Church with visitation one
hour before the service.
Pastor Phillip Platz will be officiating.
There will be a private burial service at the Richland Center cemetery, North of Rochester.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Argos Bible Church.
Dora E. Whitmer
NORTH LIBERTY — Dora E. Whitmer, 99, formerly of North Liberty, died Sunday, Oct. 4 at 5:50
p.m. at Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Plymouth after an extended illness.
She is survived by four daughters: Linda Borton of North Liberty, Susan Boswell and Evelyn
Gardner of Walkerton and Bonnie Hendricks of Plymouth; four sons: James of North Liberty,
Eugene of Fulton, N.Y., Rollo of Valdosta, Ga., and Bert of Walkerton; 56 grandchildren; 128
great-grandchildren; 61 great-great-grandchildren and a brother, Raymond Naragon of North
Liberty.
Visitation will take place from 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 at the A.M. Manuel & Co. Funeral
Home, 202 N. Main St., North Liberty and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9 at the North Liberty Church of the
Brethren.
Burial will follow at Westlawn cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Brethren.
Charles A., Jr. Bostedo
BASS LAKE — Charles A. “Chuck” Bostedo, Jr., 65, of Oak Lawn, Ill. died at 3:15 a.m. Monday,
Oct. 5, 2009 at home.
He is survived by his wife Georgina; four children: Carolyn (Todd) Baumruk, of Chicago Heights,
Ill., Michael (Jennifer) Bostedo of Orlando, Fla., Krista Bostedo, Ottawa, Ill.; and Jennifer (David)
Fitman of Plainfield, Ill.; four grandchildren; siblings: Carol (Edward) Jaeky of Indian Head Park,
Ill., Patricia (Richard) Caffarelli of Plymouth, Richard (Margaret) Bostedo of Westmont, Ill. And
Barbara (Keith) Johnson, Champagne, Ill.; and multiple nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
Family services will take place at a later date.
The Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, was entrusted with arrangements.
Memorial gifts may be made to the V.N.A. Hospice, 901 Woodland Ave., Michigan City, IN,
46360 or to the American Cancer Society.
William L. Stutzman
BREMEN — William L. "Bill" Stutzman, 90, of Bremen, formerly of Bourbon, died Monday, Oct.
5, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. at Bremen Healthcare Center.
He is survived by a daughter, Kay Fisher of Nappanee; a son, Ray W. Stutzman of Mentone;
seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren; sisters: Barbara
Helmuth of Nappanee, Lizzie Troyer of Michigan, Lydia Mae Hochstetler of Nappanee, Mary
Yoder of Nappanee, Annie Stutzman of California, Frannie (Eldon) Yoder of Salem, Mo. And
Sylvia Kohler of Nappanee; and a brother, Joe Stutzman of Nappanee.
Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 8 at the Thompson-Lengacher
& Yoder Funeral Home, 950 N. Main St., Nappanee and one hour prior to services Friday.
Funeral services will take place Friday, Oct. 9 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at South Union cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Gerald A. “Lefty” Robison
NAPPANEE — Gerald A. “Lefty” Robison, 76, of Nappanee, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 at 6:15
p.m. at Miller’s Merry Manor, Wakarusa, after a brief illness.
He is survived by a daughter, Gale (Larry) Koniecki of Marseilles, Ill.; sons: Doug (Linda)
Robison of Millersburg and Dennis Robison of Goshen; six grandchildren; seven great grandchildren;
and sisters: Rosalie (Dale) Weaver of Nappanee, Shirley Cannon of Bremen and
Nancy Davis of Goshen.
Visitation will take place Friday, Oct. 9 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder
Funeral Home, 950 N. Main St. Nappanee.
Funeral services will take place Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will
follow at Union Center cemetery. Memorials may be made to Miller’s Merry Manor, Wakarusa.
Ronald E. Botset
PLYMOUTH — Ronald E. "Ronnie" Botset, age 62, of Parkview Street, Plymouth, passed away
at 9:08 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, at Pilgrim Manor Nursing Home, Plymouth.
Ronald was born April 26, 1947, in Plymouth, to Robert and Audene (Freese) Botset. He had
been a lifetime resident of the Marshall County Area and had been a resident of Pilgrim Manor
Nursing Home since Nov. 14, 1999. Ronnie's family wishes to thank the staff of Pilgrim Manor,
for their many years, of kind and compassionate care.
Ronald is survived by his brother-in-law, Wayne Myers of Plymouth; his niece, Yavonda Myers of
Warsaw; his great-nieces: Kelsey Boal and Kiare Boal of Warsaw; his aunt, Pauline Fites of
Bourbon; his friend Chad Kaylor and his family of Argos; and many other friends.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Audene Botset and his sister, Pamela
Myers.
VISITATION: MONDAY, OCT. 12, 2009, 5 to 7 P.M.
VAN GILDER FUNERAL HOME, 300 W. MADISON ST., PLYMOUTH, IN, 46563
FUNERAL: TUESDAY, OCT. 13, 2009, 10:30 A.M.
VAN GILDER FUNERAL HOME
THE REV. PAUL SPASIC, OFFICIATING
BURIAL: NEW OAK HILL cemetery, PLYMOUTH
Constance Lyrel Morris Achorn
DES MOINES, Iowa — Constance “Connie” Lyrel Morris Achorn passed away Thursday, Oct. 8,
2009 in Des Moines, Iowa. Connie was born in Plymouth to Robert D. Morris and Gladys V.
Ridgley Morris. Both of her parents preceded her in death.
She graduated from Plymouth High School in 1958. She graduated from Chatham College for
Women in 1979 studying Art History and English Literature. Connie served in the Army Reserves
in the late 1970s.
Connie was a long-time jewelry maker and was one of the founders of The Bead Society of
Greater Washington DC and a member of the Washington Guild of Goldsmiths. She resided
most of her life in the DC area.
She is survived by her husband, Carl Achorn; her children: Lisa Wick McLean (Steve) of Des
Moines, Iowa and Greg Wick (April) of Indianapolis; her grandchildren: Misty Wick, Brittany
McLean (Justin) Peters, and Conner McLean; her great-grandchildren: Emma and Jackson
Peters; her siblings: Courtland D. Morris and Michelle Morris (Kenneth) Chapman; and her
nieces: Morgan Rich and Stephanie Rich.
Edward Brachich
HAMLET — Edward Bracich, 75, died Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 at Indiana University Medical
Center, Indianapolis.
He is survived by his wife Carol; sons: Mark (Sharon) of Colorado and Jim (Shata) of Hamlet;
daughters: Sherry and Kelly, both of Arizona; step-son, Mike (Rhonda) Edwards of Hamlet; stepdaughter,
Kelly Edwards of Hamlet; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brothers: Wally of
Munster and Bob of DeMotte; and sisters: Martha Bianco of Portage and Emily Santelik of Whiteland.
Visitation will take place Thursday, Oct. 15 from 1 p.m. (Central Time) until the time of services
at Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet Chapel. Funeral services will be Thursday at 4 p.m. at the
funeral home chapel. Cremation will follow with burial at a later date.
Oliver J. Heckaman
LAKEVILLE — Oliver J. Heckaman, 89, of Lakeville, died at 5:45 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009,
at Pilgrim Manor Nursing Home, Plymouth.
He is survived by his wife Eleanor; his son, Larry (Merrie Kay) Heckaman of Plymouth; and his
brothers: David Heckaman and Herb Heckaman, both of Lakeville.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. at New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
The family requests that memorial contributions be given to the American Heart Association.
Dannie Ray Ritchie
KNOX — Dannie Ray Ritchie, 69, died Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 in Starke Memorial Hospital, Knox.
He is survived by two sons: Ricky Ray Ritchie and Ronnie Roy Ritchie; one sister, Maggie
Everage; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. (Central Time) until the time of services at
Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet Chapel. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the
funeral home. Burial will be at the Eagle Creek cemetery, Knox.
Paul William Tucker
WABASH — Paul William Tucker, 73, of Macy, died at 12:28 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 at
Wabash County Hospital, Wabash.
He is survived by three daughters: Cynthia E. Tucker of Macy, Rev. Melody L. (Rev. William)
Krisher of Arnold, Mo. And Diane L. Gall of Peru, Ind.; six grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Good Family Funeral Home,
1200 W. 18th St., Rochester with visitation two hours prior to the service.
Burial will follow the service at Mud Creek Chapel cemetery, Macy. Memorials may be made to
the Fulton County Cancer Association or Wabash- Miami County Home Health Care & Hospice.
