Atalene Deruyter

Atalene DeRuyter, 89, of Benton Harbor, passed away Friday, June 19, 2009, at her home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00A.M. Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at Midway Baptist Church, 7517 Red Arrow Hwy., Watervliet with Pastor Mark Cowell officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens. Friends may call from 5:00P.M. until 7:00P.M. on Monday June 22, 2009 at Midway Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Light Bearers Association or Midway Baptist Church Building Fund. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mrs. DeRuyter was born October 20, 1919 in Etna, IN to Ray & Frances (Grable) Kessie. She graduated from Columbia City High School in IN. On June 15, 1944 she married Cornelius DeRuyter in Fort Wayne, IN. She was a member of the Midway Baptist Church. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, canning, reading. She was very interested in politics and was an election judge at the polls for many years. She particularly loved spending time with family especially her grandchildren. Mrs. DeRuyter is survived by her two daughters Karen (Charles) Moser of Watervliet and Deborah (William) Tenter of Coloma; six grandchildren David Moore, John (Bethany) Moore, Angie Moore, Betsy (Jeremy) Steltner, William Tenter III and Dathan Tenter; six great grandchildren; and brother Donald (Linda) Kessie. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, two sisters and one brother.