Grandma Dedafoe's Scrapbook
DRAVENSTATT, Mildred Ethelyn (BIDWELL)
Lansing
Born October 22, 1906 near Mulliken, MI; died February 19, 1997 at the age of 90. Mrs.
Dravenstatt was an active member of the Central Free Methodist Church, Lansing, where she was a
Sunday School Teacher for the little children and was a life member of the W.M.I. (Women's
Missionary International) Ladies Society. Mrs. Dravenstatt cared for over 100 foster children
during a thirty-five year period of time. She was employed by the W.T. Grant department store in
Lansing for 13 years, retiring in 1968. Surviving are 2 daughters, Beverly (Kenneth) McNEILLY of
Holt and Ardis (the Rev. G. Robert) SAWYER of Mayville; 6 grandchildren, Parna and Bill WESTFALL,
Don and Margaret McNEILLY, Kenneth and Tresea McNEILLY, Kevin and Pattie McNEILLY, Gerald and
Gina SAWYER and Cinda SAWYER; 10 great grandchildren; 1 brother, Rev. Merlin (Hilda) BIDWELL of
Andice, TX; 1 brother-in-law, Charles SAUFLEY of Newark, DE; several nieces and nephews and a
number of special friends. Mrs. Dravenstatt was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth and
sister, Ruth (BIDWELL) SAUFLEY. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 22, 10 a.m. at
the Gorsline-Runciman Co. Lansing Chapel, 900 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, with the Rev. R. Daniel
Shinabarger, Central Free Methodist Church, Lansing officiating and with the Rev. G. Robert
Sawyer assisting. Interment will follow in Danby Cemetery, Portland. Friends may call at the
Chapel beginning Friday, 12 noon, where the family will receive friends from 12-9 p.m. Those
desiring may make contributions to Family Life Radio, P.O. Box 366, Midland, 48640; McLaren
Hospice Service,237 David Lake Road, Lapeer, MI 48446, or the Central Free Methodist Church, 828
N. Washington Ave., Lansing 48906, in memory of Mrs. Dravenstatt.
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