Anna C. Chilson

Anna Catherine Chilson, 91, of Berrien Springs, died Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.

Ann, as she preferred to be called, was born February 9, 1925 in New Haven Township, Olmsted County, Minnesota, to Harry James and May Catherine (Prouty) Hayden.  She was named after her grandmothers, Anna Augusta Smith Hayden and Margaret Catherine Boyle Prouty.  

Shortly after moving to Kalmar Township, she met and quickly married Arbey Adison Chilson, who lived on a farm just south of the Haydens.  Arbey acquired a Quonset hut from the Graham wartime physician housing, purchased six acres of land from his dad, and moved it to its current location in rural Byron.  Ann lived in that house, with Arbey’s modifications, for the next 50 years until poor health forced her to move to Michigan to be cared for by her son, Bennett.

The Chilsons had six children, Bennett Duane (Sandra) of Berrien Springs, Robert Arbey (Betty) of Lincoln, Nebraska, James Dean (Shirley div.) of Laurel, Maryland, Deborah Ann Kerr (William) of Rochester, Scott and Todd Steven of Lincoln.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her infant son, Scott.  

She is survived by all her children, with the exception of Scott who died in infancy, 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. 

A funeral service was held on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Rochester, Minnesota, with burial in Grandview Memorial Gardens.

Local arrangements were by Allred Funeral Home, Berrien Springs.  Online messages may be left for Ann’s family at www.allredfuneralhome.com.