Thelma DeGroot
Thelma O’Dessie DeGroot, 94, of Bellevue died on Monday, October 25, 2021, at her daughter’s home following a long life lived.
Dessie was born on November 9, 1926, in Laurelville, Ohio to Tinsel and Ruth (Truex) McDonald. She graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1946. On May 18, 1946, she married Nelson DeGroot in Battle Creek. He preceded her in death on November 24, 2011.
Dessie was a homemaker stayed home to raise her family. Before her children were born, she worked as office manager of the Dudley Insurance Company in Battle Creek. She was a member of the Bellevue United Methodist Church, Farm Bureau, Michigan Women for Highway Safety, and a 4-H in Eaton County for many years. Dessie was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling with her husband Nelson and seeing every state but, Delaware because Nelson would not pay the $.50 toll to cross the bridge. They also enjoyed traveling to Europe. She and Nelson were founding members of the Whirl-a-way’s Square-Dancing Club. Dessie also enjoyed spending the winters in Texas for over 40 years.
She is survived by her children, LuAnn Damon, Ronald (Susan) DeGroot and Roy (Marsha) DeGroot; grandchildren, Amanda DeGroot-Bonneville, Benjamin DeGroot, Lance (Tanya) DeGroot, Dustin (Jessica) Damon, and Lesley (James) Loren; several much oved great-grandchildren; a brother Harold (Geneva) McDonald. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; Son-in-Law Duane Damon; brother Urban McDonald; and Cousin Jane Nickerson.
Visitation took place from 10-11am on Friday, October 29, 2021, at the Bellevue United Methodist Church, 122 West Capitol Avenue Bellevue MI 49021 with a funeral service taking place at 11am. Interment will follow at Bellevue Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions are requested to the Bellevue Library. Assistance with memorials is available at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 723 US Hwy 27 N, Marshall MI 49068. Leave a personal message for the family and sign the online guestbook at https://www.kempffuneralhome.com