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Life Stories

Death of Rita Lynn Wright

   Life Stories | Posted on July 2, 2026
Rita Lynn (McKenzie) Wright, 62, of Berrien Springs, Michigan, passed away at home, on June 22, 2026. She was born on May 2, 1964, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and lived a life filled with love, kindness, faith and... read more

Death of Ione Markel Richardson

   Life Stories | Posted on June 25, 2026
Ione Markel was born in Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, to Gideon and Erlena (Weaver) Markel. Ione died at 95 in College Place, Washington, adored by her family. As a teenager, she converted to the Seventh-day Adventist Church and graduated from... read more

Death of Kenneth Franz

   Life Stories | Posted on June 17, 2026
Kenneth LeRoy Franz, 89, of Berrien Springs, MI. passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. ... Kenneth was born on Oct. 4, 1936,... read more

Death of John William Rogers Jr.

   Life Stories | Posted on May 20, 2026
John William Rogers Jr., husband of Jennifer Janssen-Rogers (Enterprise Applications business analyst at Andrews University), passed away on April 10, 2026. A memorial and celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m., May 24, 2026, at Twin... read more

Death of Gladys Davis Holmes

   Life Stories | Posted on February 5, 2026
Gladys Gayle Davis was born on May 18, 1934, in Sheridan, Wyoming. She was the daughter of Harry and Blanche Davis. She moved to Belle Fourche, South Dakota, when she was five years old and grew up there... read more

Death of Woodrow Whidden

   Life Stories | Posted on November 20, 2025
Woodrow Whidden, 81, passed peacefully at home in Berrien Springs on Nov. 11, 2025, beside his loving wife, Margaret, after a full life. Known for his big voice, rich southern drawl, humor and a... read more

Death of Eduardo Ocampo

   Life Stories | Posted on November 6, 2025
Eduardo A. Ocampo was born on Oct. 13, 1931, to Lucila Yábar de Ocampo and Wenceslao Ocampo. At fifteen, he met the love of his life, Flora Alva León. They married in 1957 and, in 1973, moved with... read more

Celebration of Life for Katherine Smith

   Life Stories | Posted on October 23, 2025
We are saddened to share that Katherine Smith, 95, passed away on Aug. 8, 2025, in Mesa, AZ, from complications of Alzheimer’s. A former associate dean of women and Pioneer Memorial Church co-head elder, she was a fixture... read more