June Phelps, daughter of William Arthur (1882-?) and Ardella Ann "Della" (Moore) (1884-?) Phelps, was born 18 June 1917 Nashville, Barry County, Michigan.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 23 May 1921
NASHVILLE GIRL LOSES SIGHT OF RIGHT EYE
Nashville, May 23 - Little June Phelps, three-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Phelps, lost the sight of her right eye when the tine of a pitchfork with which her brother was digging fish bait, pierced the pupil. Although no one witnessed the accident, it is supposed the child stopped to pick up a worm just as the little boy forced the fork through the loose dirt. She was rushed to a specialist in Grand Rapids in hopes something might be done to save the sight, but total blindness had been instantaneous.
June graduated in 1935 from Okemos High School. She married Ivan Chris Christensen 13 November 1937, East Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan. Ivan and June raised 4 children during their nearly 50 years of marriage. June died 26 October 1987, Houston, Harris County, Texas. Ivan, born 14 April 1912, Sidney Township, Montcalm County, Michigan, died 7 December 1988, Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois. Ivan and June were interred Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, DeWitt, Clinton County, Michigan.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 28 October 1987
JUNE CHRISTENSEN
WILLIAMSTON
Age 70, born June 18, 1917 in Okemos, MI, died October 26 in Houston, TX. She is a member of the Williamston United Methodist Church and the Rebecca Circle of the United Methodist Women. She was a member of the Williamston Chapter #29 O.E.S. of which she was the past Worthy Matron. She retired as a secretary from Michigan State University in 1978. She is survived by her husband, Ivan; 2 daughters, Mrs. Gerald (Sandra) Regnier of Bradley, IL and Mrs. Douglas (Marsha) Wiswary of Grand Ledge; 2 sons, Gerald and his wife, Jean of Saline and Michael and his wife, Linda of Bayside, WI; 9 grandchildren; 3 brothers, Mack Phelps of Williamston, William Phelps of Flint, David Phelps of California; 1 sister, Rosemary Rieves of St. Johns. Funeral services will be held at the Gorsline-Runciman Williamston Chapel Friday at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Ilona Fabo-Shuler. Interment will be in the Chapel Hill Cemetery, Lansing.
Three of the William Arthur Phelps' sons served honorably in military service during World War II. William was an Army Pfc. with the Third Army in Germany. Raymond, a seaman first class, served in the South Pacific. Private Charles Phelps, US Army, was wounded in the right leg by machine gun fire while fighting on Luzon in the Philippines. (Lansing State Journal 3 May 1945)