Submitted by: Dan Rich

Aletha M. Rhodes

May 1, 1909 - Oct. 9, 1998

South Bend Tribune 10/11/1998

SOUTH BEND- Aletha M. Rhodes, 89, of Fountainview Place, Mishawaka, Ind., formerly of East Altgeld Street, South Bend, Ind., died at 5 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, in Fountainview Place. Mrs. Rhodes was born on May 1, 1909, in South Bend, to Edward and Mattie (Wolters) Bessler, and was a lifetime area resident.

On Aug. 16, 1930, in South Bend, as Aletha M. Bessler, she married John W. Rhodes, who preceded her in death on Jan. 2, 1995. She is survived by a daughter, Mary A. (Fred) Brothers of Winter Haven, Fla.; a son, John W. (Mary) Rhodes, Jr., of Bremen, Ind.; four grandchildren, Larry and Terry Brothers and Beth Bogunia and Becky James; and by two great-grandchildren, Derek and Allison Brothers.

Mrs. Rhodes retired in 1976 as a lab technician for Dr. Agatha Wilhelm after 35 years service.

She was a member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, the Viking Club, Order of Eastern Star Chapter 569 where she served as worthy matron in 1945 and 1946, and Messiah Shrine 10, White Shrine of Jerusalem.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday in the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 225 E. Haney Street, with Rev. Denise Grant officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. today in the Welsheimer Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street, where an Eastern Star memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the church or to the Alzheimer's Foundation, Northern Indiana Chapter, 919 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46617.