Submitted by: Dan Rich

Berton W. Mahnesmith

Feb. 26, 1926 - Nov. 30, 1997

South Bend Tribune 12/2/1997

SOUTH BEND - Berton W. Mahnesmith, 71, of West Edison Road, South Bend, Ind., died suddenly at 10:26 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, in Memorial Hospital. Mr. Mahnesmith retired in 1983 from Liquid Carbonic after 31 years of employment. He was born on Feb. 26, 1926, in Albion, Ind., and had lived in South Bend since 1958. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willis Mahnesmith and Ruth (Homsher) Mahnesmith.

On Jan. 16, 1943, in Albion, he married Velma Duesler, who survives. He is also survived by a daughter, Connie Lou (Tony) Hardy of Tustin, Calif.; two sons, Roger (Sharon) Mahnesmith of Edwardsburg, Mich., and Richard (Cynthia) Mahnesmith of Granger, Ind.; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mary K. Stump of Wolf Lake, Ind., Sara Jane Conrad of Columbia City, Ind., and Betty Jo Saggars of Ligonier, Ind.; and by two brothers, Lee Mahnesmith of Terre Haute, Ind., and Carmen Mahnesmith of South Bend. Mr. Mahnesmith belonged to the Lydick United Methodist Church and the Lydick Lions Club. He was a square-dancing caller and teacher for 30 years.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, with Rev. Kevin J. Buckley officiating. Burial will follow in Sweet Cemetery, located just outside of Albion. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lydick United Methodist Church, 26510 W. Edison Road, South Bend, IN 46628.