Dessie (McDonald) DeGroot

Thelma O’Dessie DeGroot, 94, of Bellevue died on Monday, October 25, 2021, at her daughter’s home following a long illness. Dessie was born on November 9, 1926, in Laurelville, Ohio to Tinsel and Ruth (Truex) McDonald. and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1946.  On May 18, 1946, she married Nelson DeGroot in Battle Creek, who preceded her in death on November 24, 2011. Dessie was a homemaker, staying home to raise her family.  Before her children were born, she worked as the office manager for the Dudley Insurance Company in Battle Creek. She was a member of the Bellevue United Methodist Church, Farm Bureau, Michigan Women for Highway Safety, and 4-H in Eaton County for many years. Dessie was an avid reader who enjoyed traveling with her husband Nelson, seeing every state except Delaware because Nelson would not pay the $.50 toll to cross the bridge. They also enjoyed traveling to Europe. She and Nelson were founding members of the Whirl-a-way’s Square-Dancing Club and enjoyed spending the winters in Texas for over 40 years.  She is survived by her children LuAnn Damon, Ronald (Susan) DeGroot and Roy (Marsha) DeGroot; grandchildren Amanda DeGroot-Bonneville, Benjamin DeGroot, Lance (Tanya) DeGroot, Dustin (Jessica) Damon and Lesley (James) Loren; several much loved great-grandchildren and a brother Harold (Geneva) McDonald. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; son-in-law Duane Damon; brother Urban McDonald; and cousin Jane Nickerson.

Visitation will take place from 10-11am on Friday, October 29, 2021, at the Bellevue United Methodist Church, 122 West Capital Avenue in Bellevue, Michigan with a funeral service at 11am.  Interment will follow at Bellevue Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions are requested to the Bellevue Library.  Assistance with memorials is available at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services 723 US Hwy 27 N Marshall MI 49068.  Leave a personal message for the family and sign the online guestbook at https://www.kempffuneralhome.com.