Velma May ‘Val’ Racht, of Niles

Published 9:30 am Friday, September 5, 2014

Velma May “Val” Racht, 81, of Niles, died at 5:55 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville, Michgian following a brief illness.

She was born on May 23, 1933, in Mississippi County, Arkansas to Peter Franklin and Bessie Ida (Ashley) Green. Val worked for the Krajci Drug Store in the 1950-1960s. She owned and operated “The Spur” restaurant in Arkansas. She was later employed at the Logan Center in South Bend as a receptionist.

Velma May “Val” Racht

Velma May “Val” Racht

On Dec. 3, 1983, in Niles she married Richard Racht. They celebrated the 21st anniversary of their wedding prior to Richard’s death in 2005.

Surviving family includes her daughter Debbie (Stephen) Brumitt-Jess of Niles; son Michael Allen (Vicki) Brumitt of Batesville, Arkansas; grandchildren Allen Milligan, Threasa Le, Nicole Berendzen, and Joanie Jess; great-grandchildren Tiffany Milligan, Paige Tudor, Gavin Jess, Ivan Le, Taryn Le, Scott, Carter; and several brothers and sisters.

The funeral service for Velma Racht will be at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Alphonse Savarimuthu, MSFS of Saint Mary Catholic Church officiating.

The family will receive friends on Saturday at the funeral home beginning at 4 p.m. Contributions in memory of Val may be made to Hanson Hospice House.

www.halbritterfunerals.com