Manuelita Bellinger

Lita Bellinger was a woman who devoted her life to caring for those closest to her. She was a wonderful woman, a loving, supportive wife, a caring daughter and sister, and a friend to so many. Most of all, Lita was a woman who made the most of everything in life, saved it, and held it dear, just as we do with her memory today. Litas story began on a cool winter day in 1924, in the shoreline city of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were exciting times in this country, the heyday of the Roaring 20s, when Big Bands were king, and Prohibition was the law of the land. On February 23, 1924, Fritz and Florence (Storr) Nelson had even more to celebrate, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Manuelita Sarah Nelson. Manuelita, or Lita as she would always be called, joined her brother C. David and her sister Bonnie in the proud Swedish familys home, located on the north side of Muskegon. Her father was a hardworking builder and mason, while her mother cared for the home and children. Lita attended a little one-room schoolhouse called Maple Ridge as a girl, walking to the school on Buys Road every day. The family moved to California for a year during the tough times of the Great Depression, hoping for better work, but soon moved back to their life in Muskegon. Lita was a very bright and talented girl, and when she was a teenager she was part of a traveling dance troupe, which entertained audiences around West Michigan and as far away as Chicago. When Lita was a young woman, her sister Bonnie began dating a man named Chuck Bellinger, who happened to have a brother named Steve. They introduced Steve to the pretty young Lita, and the sparks flew between them. Lita and Steve began dating (plenty of double-dates with Bonnie and Chuck, of course), and soon fell in love. They were married on September 20, 1946, after Steve returned home from his service in World War II. Bonnie also married Chuck, making for a very close-knit extended family. Steve and Lita soon started their own dry cleaning business, called Steves Cleaners. The business was a rousing success, and they soon had two locations, one on Pine Street, and another on Apple Avenue in Muskegon. Lita was a hardworking woman, and a great business partner to have. She saw a bit of everything in her years at the cleaners, even some things she wished she hadnt! Once she was working when a lone gunman barged into the business, an armed robbery that left her understandably terrified, but otherwise unharmed. As hard as they worked, Lita and Steve were far from all work and no play, however. Though they never had children, they led very active social lives, and were especially close with Bonnie and Chuck and their extended families, and got together often over the years. They also were members of the Muskegon Eagles for many years, where they enjoyed hanging out with their friends and playing cards. And they both enjoyed bowling very much, and participated in several bowling leagues together and separately over the years. They traveled all around the state for their bowling tournaments, which Lita enjoyed so much. She was also content to be at home, too. Lita and Steve lived in a lovely home on Wesley Street on Jackson Hill in Muskegon, a home Litas father built for the couple, where Lita would live most of her life. Lita loved the home, and enjoyed the beautiful gardens she grew there. The home was also the site of many wonderful Thanksgiving dinners over the years. Later in life, after her father died, her mother came to live with them, and Lita lovingly cared for her up until her death. Lita and her husband operated the cleaners for nearly 30 years, until they decided to retire in the 1970s. Lita had plenty of hobbies to keep her busy in retirement, from the crossword puzzles she did every day, to reading and coin collecting. She was a self-professed pack-rat, and collected all sorts of things, a trait she picked up from her mother, and one that was perhaps reinforced by living through the Depression. Sadly, her beloved husband died in 1986, after 40 years together. Lita was deeply saddened, but persevered, keeping busy and spending time with her loving nieces, who cared for her as her years progressed. Eventually, Lita moved to the Hume Home Assisted Living center, a place she enjoyed very much. The staff there was wonderful, and she enjoyed the food and her fellow residents, too. Sadly, Lita was diagnosed with cancer close to Thanksgiving of 2007, and the disease spread rapidly. Lita died on Saturday, December 15, 2007, at the VNS Hospice House in Muskegon, at the age of 83. Lita was a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life she devoted to the people closest to her. She was a beloved wife, daughter, sister and friend, and a woman of many passions and pastimes. Lita loved many things in her life, saved them and held them dear, just as we do with her memory today. She will be greatly missed. Lita is survived by her 2 brothers-in-law, Charles Bellinger of Muskegon & Flip Bellinger of CA; nieces & nephews, Ken Nelson, Diana Jones, Douglas Nelson, Melody Walden, Christina Nelson, Stephanie Bellinger, Michael Bellinger, Pete Derouin & Kim MayBerry; many great nieces & nephews & several cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, brother, C. David Nelson & a sister Bonnie Bellinger. Services are scheduled for Wednesday, December 19, 2007, 1:00 PM at Clock Chapel with Elder Stanley Brown officiating. Interment at Fruitland Township Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday, 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to Hume Home or Hackley VNS Hospice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo, or to sign the guestbook.