Obituaries
Betty L. Bergeon
Betty Lou (Snider) Bergeon was born in Flint, Mich., on November 2, 1931, to Rolland & Lillian Snider. She was third of six children, Audrey, Ray, Betty, Clayton, Lyle, and Louise. The kids were raised to be hard workers, all helping on the family farm. They worked alongside their parents milking cows, feeding pigs, and doing field work in Clare, Michigan, then they moved to the farm on Columbia Road in Mason, Michigan in 1942. They worked hard together and played hard together. The Snider house was full of loud noise, laughter, card playing, and year-round fishing.
At the age of 14, Betty had her first job away from the farm, in town at the local bakery. She mixed, cooked, frosted, and ate lots of doughnuts. Betty graduated from Mason High School in 1951 and started work at Dart National Bank as a teller until 1954. From 1955-1966 she was a full-time home maker, then returned to Dart Bank to work from 1967-1972. Then Betty worked 15 years for Michigan National Bank as a customer service representative. In 1998, Betty Bergeon was federally certified as the airport manager of Bergeon Airfield in Mason Michigan, with her son-in-law, David Groh, helping her study for the test.
Betty Lou Snider and John Donald Bergeon were married January 30, 1954. Together they raised their five children, grew acres of pumpkins, five acres of strawberries, two acres of vegetables, re-built a 130-year-old farm house, flew hot air balloons, built and certified Bergeon Air Field, collected World War II equipment, and hosted many parties, family reunions, and get togethers in the airplane hangars. At Christmas they would hang thousands of lights outside and give away hundreds of all kinds of cookies. They enjoyed family, friends, and life to its fullest.
Fishing was Betty’s passion, and the reason why her family gave her the nickname Betty Bass. If she could get a line in the water, she was happy. Her family would go to the lake house near Rodney and at Grandpa Snider’s gravel pit and catch pan fish including croppy, bluegill, sunfish, bass, and perch. Some of Betty’s fondest memories were flying to Canada on an inland lake to fish when she was on crutches, and an ocean fishing excursion where she landed a blue fin tuna. Betty fought the tuna for several hours, her arms were on fire, but she never gave up until the huge fish was in the boat.
Betty worked with the St. James Catholic Church altar society. Having four daughters, Betty was a Girl Scout Leader for 17 years, planning and leading numerous camping trips, as well as many other activities. Helping each of her girls earn all their badges, she had sore fingers from sewing on badges. Also, an avid sewer and quilter, she was a long-time member of the capitol quilters guild and member of quilt clubs.
The Lord called Betty home the morning of August 14, 2021. A graveside service was held for the family. Betty was buried alongside her beloved husband, John, at Greenwood Cemetery in Mason, Michigan. John preceded her in death March 7, 1997, after 43 years of marriage.
Betty is survived by her five children, Debbie (Dave) Groh, Denise (Jim) Droscha, Rolland Bergeon, Dawn (Paul) Edenfield, and Diane (Harold Bailey) Bergeon; grandkids, Helise (Chris) Long, Jeremy (Jessica) Droscha, Katie (Andrew Rodgers) Droscha, Sarah (Dustin) Osborne, and Rolland Jay (Heather) Bergeon; seven great-grandkids, Ben and Natalie Long, Mason, Hannah, and Aubrey Droscha, and Charlotte and Luka Osborne; in-laws, Tom and Mickey Bergeon, and Nancy and Clair Bouts. Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 43-years, John; her parents; sister, Audrey Starr; brothers, Clayton, Lyle, and Ray Snider; her mother-in-law and father-in-law Mary and John C. Burgeon; and in-laws, Sue and Bill Parsons, and Dr. Milton and Marge Bergeon.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made in Betty’s name to First Baptist Church, 1110 S. Cochran Ave, Charlotte, MI 48813. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Rosalinda Cardenas
Rosalinda Cardenas, age 72, passed away July 29, 2021. She was born on September 21, 1948 to the late Maria and Alfonso Cardenas. She attended Charlotte High School until relocating to Summit, Ill. for 54 years of residency. Rosalinda was employed at Borg Warner as an inspector in Bellwood, Ill. for 45 years, retiring in 2014.
She is survived by her beloved siblings, Thomas Cardenas, Frank (Joyce) Cardenas, Raymond Cardenas, Amado (Jill) Cardenas, Dora (Sid) Silvas, Lydia (Miguel) Gallaga, and Mary Cybulski. She was a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed but never forgotten, forever in our hearts.
Rosalinda was preceded in death by Marlene Cardenas, Dora Cardenas, Olivia (Jose) Amador, and Walter Cybulski.
A private memorial will be held at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte, Mich. at a later date.
Evelyn Mae Sisco
Evelyn Mae Sisco, of Jackson, Mich., and formerly of Eaton Rapids, Mich. passed away on August 17, 2021 at the age of 83. Evelyn was born on August 13, 1938, in Eaton Rapids, the daughter of Lloyd and Esta (Edwards) Snow. She worked in retail most of her life, spending several years at Walmart in Lansing where she helped to open the store, she also worked at the Jackson Walmart. Evelyn enjoyed taking walks and working on word puzzles. Most of all, Evelyn enjoyed spending time with her family especially her grandchildren and most recently her great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Scott Bibler; grandson, Mark “Bibs” Bibler; brothers, Harold Snow, Dale Snow, Bill Snow; sister, Jeanine Smith and sister-in-law, Polly Snow.
Evelyn is survived by her children, Sheryl Spurbeck, Scott Bibler, Mark (Connie) Bibler, Steven Siegrist; grandchildren; McKenzie Eldred, DeAnna Spurbeck, Jennifer (Kyle) Cudworth, Ryan (Nikki) Spurbeck, Robby (Heidi) Spurbeck, April (Wayne) Schultz, Angel Bibler, Jessica Hatch, Zeb Siegrist; great grandchildren, Shaun, Jessalynn, Kolt, Marcy, Miley, Maverlee, Maeslyn, Ryder, Rhyland, Jhemma, Shane, Shaylee, McKaylah, RiCarielle, Jayla, Brooklyn, Wayne, Aleya, Noah; sisters, Joyce Favero, Flora (Dick) Alwood; brother, Sam (Jane) Snow; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Evelyn’s remains will be laid to rest at Brickyard Cemetery on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 11 a.m., with a dinner immediately following at Onondaga Park. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in memory of Evelyn. To share memories or leave condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Sharon O. Southwell
Sharon Olive Southwell, of The Villages in Fla., formerly of Eaton Rapids, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2021, at the age of 82. Sharon was born in Eaton Rapids, September 25, 1938, the daughter of Oliver and Olive (Baker) Goodrich. She lived most of her life in Eaton Rapids and was a 1956 graduate of Eaton Rapids High School. Sharon married David in 1959 and they were inseparable until his passing in 2015. She moved to The Villages in 2019, where she enjoyed warm memories of the time spent with David and their Florida friends. Sharon retired from General Motors in 1999 as a purchasing specialist. She was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids, BPW, and the Red Hat Society. The family wishes to thank her loving caregivers, and especially the staff of Cornerstone Hospice & Palliative Care at The Villages.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents; husband, David; sister, Shirley Nicholas. She is survived by sons, Gregory (Sandy) and Geoffrey (Josephine). Sharon also leaves behind her six grandchildren, Ryan (Jenelle), Kirsten, Samantha (Chris) Bassil, Robert and Andrew; one great-grandchild, Henry, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 22, 2021, at the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids, with visitation taking place one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp in loving memory of Sharon. To leave online condolences, please visit millsfuneral.com.
Steve Jones
Steve Jones, born October 15, 1976, was laid to rest August 3, 2021.
Steve is survived by his amazing son, Stephen and beloved, Grace.
“Though his smile is gone forever, and his hand I cannot touch, I still have many memories of the one I loved so much. Your memory is my keepsake, with which I will never part. God has you in His keeping, I have you in my heart. Sadly missed, but not forgotten.”