Obituaries

Deanna Lee Johnson

of Commerce Township, Michigan, formerly of Chelsea, MI, age 59, passed away unexpectedly due to natural causes on Friday, December 13, 2019 at Ascension Providence Hospital - Novi Campus. She was born June 16, 1960 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the daughter of Samuel Joseph & Joyce A. (Peters) Johnson. Deanna graduated from Chelsea High School in 1978, and attended Eastern Michigan University studying business. She currently worked in the HR department at Bosch, where she was well-loved by her Bosch family. Deanna had worked for DTE. She also worked part-time and taught classes at JoAnn Fabric in Novi. Deanna was a skilled crafter who loved quilting and cross-stitching. She made many treasured items for family and friends.

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Bette Joyce Margeson

Bette Joyce (Lindemann) Margeson, daughter of the late Ernest A. Lindemann and Lydia (Treder) Lindemann, was born on June 29, 1927 in Benton Harbor MI. She passed December 9, 2019 at Towsley Memory Village, Chelsea.  She graduated from Benton Harbor High School and then attended the University of Michigan where she received a BA in Music.  She was an accomplished pianist and singer. She sang with the choir at the Congregational Church in Benton Harbor and the U of M Choral Union.

Colleen Theresa Houle

Colleen Theresa Houle, of Alma, Michigan, formerly of Chelsea, age 90, died Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at Masonic Pathways in Alma, Michigan. She was born April 22, 1929, in Gladstone, MI, the daughter of Andrew & Prudence (Taylor) Rappette.

Colleen graduated from Escanaba High School Class of 1947.  She was the Delta County Potato Queen, then the UP Potato Queen in 1946, and finally was chosen to be the first UP State Fair Queen in 1946.  It was at the Fair Queen ceremony that she met her future husband, Robert Houle.  She worked at Chelsea State Bank for 27 years, where she was the executive assistant to Mr. Mann and Mr. Schaible.  Colleen was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and worked in the office for years. She was also a member of the Franciscan Third Order for several years.  She and Robert toured the Midwest with the Shroud of Turin.

Barbara Ann Leach

   Age 84, died Sunday, December 8, 2019 at Henry Ford Allegiance Hospice Home. She was born September 21, 1935 in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of John H. & Sybil F. (Bird) Wilson. Mrs. Leach had worked for the Chelsea Public Schools for 10 years, and the Chelsea Community Hospital for 20 years.   She was a member of the Chelsea Suburbanettes.