Dorothy J. Beltz Starring

DOROTHY J. BELTZ STARRING Dorothy J. "Dort" Beltz Starring, age 78, of Ceresco, died Tuesday evening, April 18, 2006 at her home surrounded by loving family and friends. Dort was born Feb. 20, 1928 in Redfield, South Dakota to Edward I. and Winnie May (Johnson) Crites. She moved to Jackson as a child with her family. After some creative paperwork to ensure her marriage without parental interference, she was married on Jan. 17, 1944 in Jackson to John F. Beltz. John then left for overseas to fight in WWII. He was seriously wounded in action, and was returned to Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek. Dort joined him there, and waitressed to support her stay. After his discharge from the hospital and the armed forces, the couple settled in this area and lived in Ceresco area, where Dort still resides. John preceded her in death on Aug. 18, 1975. Dort was married on June 10, 1977 in Battle Creek to William P. "Bill" Starring. Bill preceded her in death also, on January 1, 2004. She worked for the State of Michigan at the Ft. Custer State Home until it''s closing. She then transferred to the Coldwater State Home, where she was a nursing supervisor. She retired in 1985 after 28 years of service. She was a member of the Battle Creek Eagles Lodge and Marshall Moose Lodge #676. Dort was an avid bingo player at the George E. Custer American Legion Post in Battle Creek. She also loved playing cards, especially "Hand and Foot" with a group of friends on a weekly basis. Games of chance always interested her, and she liked visiting the casino in Mt. Pleasant. Dort liked watching sports. She enjoyed snowmobile trips up north with husband Bill. She loved dogs, especially her Doberman''s that she had over the years, Angel, Dollie and Dottie. Dort fed the squirrels and birds in her yard, and liked to watch the deer that would wander up also. She was a charitable soul, who would give you the "shirt off her back" if you had needed it. Surviving Dort are her family, John and Bobbie Beltz of Portage, Bob and Deb Beltz of Ceresco, Toni and Ken Heckman of Battle Creek, Ruth Starring and Tim Banister of Marshall, 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, and a brother Kenneth Dean Crites of Jackson, and many nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her siblings Bill, Peggy, Woody, Hazel, Berniece, Suzie, Margaret and Betty. Friends may call at the Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home on Friday from 2PM to 9PM, where the family will be present from 2PM-4PM and 6PM-8PM to greet friends and share memories. Funeral services to celebrate and remember Dort''s life will be held on Saturday at 11AM at the Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home with Rev. Larry Fulton officiating. Interment will follow in Ceresco Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Lifespan Hospice. Assistance with memorials available at Kempf Funeral Home.