Dawn Phelps
Columnist
From Dawn. On April 27, I received an email from Sherry LaBrie from Lakeland Florida, a granddaughter of Mable and Archie Belisle who lived in the Miltonvale community many years ago. Sherry wrote to me after several of their family members had visited Miltonvale to honor the wishes of three of their family members to be buried in the Miltonvale Cemetery.
Here’s a little Belisle family history. Archie and Mable were integral members of our community and the UMC Church for many years. Archie was born in 1902 and died in 1979. Mable was born in 1905 and died in 1997. Many in our community still remember them.
My husband Tom told me a story about Archie. He said Archie flew a small airplane and taught a Sunday School class for young boys. Tom was in his class. He said that if the boys attended Archie’s class, Archie would take them up in his airplane. So, Archie’s Sunday School class was well attended!
Mable and Archie were parents of Virginia (Ginny) who married Walter Brannon and Margaret Ann (Ann) who married Leroy Henry. Walter, Sherry’s father, died March 29, 1999, and her mother Virginia died September 9, 2022, and their ashes were held for future burials. Walter and Virginia were teachers.
Margaret Ann lived in New York State for many years where she worked as a nurse. She was living near her daughter Kara in Massachusetts when she died on April 8, 2025. After her death, the family traveled to Miltonvale to bury Ann and the ashes of Walter and Virginia.
On April 23, they were buried in our country cemetery south of town. During their limited time in Miltonvale, the family fulfilled the final burial wishes for three people and briefly connected with several in our community.
Letter written by Sherry LaBrie
Hello Dawn, I was looking for you this past Wednesday because Harry Lee (my husband Tom’s youngest brother) suggested I drop in on you. We were there (6 cousins) to bury the last of the Belisle Miltonvale family out at the cemetery.
My name is Sherry Brannon LaBrie. My sister Beth Brannon Eifert, my brother Carl Brannon, and I were there to bury the ashes of our parents, Walter and Virginia Belisle Brannon. My daughter, Becky Fellows, and my husband Tom LaBrie came with us.
My cousins, Lisa Henry Payton, Matthew Henry, and Kara Henry were there to bury their mother, Margaret Ann Henry.
Virginia and Margaret Ann were the daughters of Archie and Mable Belisle who lived there most of their lives. Archie worked for Kansas Power and Light. Mable was multi-talented and served her family, church, and community in many ways.
All the cousins have many beloved memories of Miltonvale and visiting our grandparents. We took a walk down “memory lane” while there for about 24 hours.
I believe Margaret Ann was about the same age as your husband, Tom. My mom, Virginia, was about 10 years older.
It was fun to run into Harry and Richard Shultz at the cafe as they shared some stories that they remembered from times past.
I think I contacted you once about the Record on behalf of my mother when she needed to contact Virgil Vesterberg. Virgil was a cousin of hers and Ann’s. She received a copy of the Record every week until she passed away 9-9-2022. I’m glad they were still publishing until then.
I guess I just wanted to share one last visit to Miltonvale for us all together. In the past Grandma would be sure something about her visitors was in the Record. I’m sorry I missed meeting you face to face.
Greetings to all the Phelps family. Mrs. Phelps (Grandma Emma Phelps) often had me as a visitor when I was little. I have fond memories of that time.
Blessings,
Sherry LaBrie
From Dawn. Thank you, Sherry, for allowing me to share your letter with our local paper one more time. That would make Mable happy! And thanks for reminding us of our own memories or Archie and Mable.
Since your visit, Tom and I drove out to the cemetery to look for their final resting places. We found where they are now—on the north side of the cemetery, not far from Mable and Archie. Your loved ones lived their lives well.
They have completed that circle of life—from their births in our little town and back home again. Their final earthly journey “home” to Miltonvale is complete. May they rest in peace until we all meet again. Blessings to you all! Dawn
