1902-2000
Wife of Michigan National Bank Founder Dies at 97Jennie Creer Stoddard died at her summer home in Harbor Springs, Michigan, Feb. 13, 2000, after a brief illness.
She was born on July 28, 1902 in Spanish Fork, Utah to John Preston Creer and Mary Elizabeth Brockbank Creer. Jennie graduated from the University of Utah, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority.
On September 3, 1924, Jennie was married in the Salt Lake Temple to Howard J. Stoddard of LaGrande, Oregon and in the next nine years, moved with him to New York City, Washington, D.C., and Grosse Pointe, Michigan. In 1939, they moved to East Lansing, Michigan. In 1941, Howard founded the statewide Michigan National Bank. Howard died on June 15, 1971.
Jennie is survived by three sisters, Mrs. H. Perry Driggs of Salt Lake City, Utah; Mrs. Arch Webb of Ogden, Utah; and Mrs. Mary Shaver, formerly of Battle Creek, now of Boulder, Colorado. She is also survived by three of four children: Mrs. Virginia S. Peery of East Lansing; Mr. Stanford C. Stoddard of Bloomfield Hills; and Mrs. Charles C. Stoddard of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was predeceased by her son, Howard P. Stoddard, who died in October, 1989. Jennie is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Jennie was involved in community affairs all her life. She was on the Board of the Lansing Branch of the American Red Cross; Lancing YWCA World Service Counsel; Trustee Emeritus, University of Utah; and Sparrow Hospital Auxiliary. She held memberships in the Detroit Economic Club (first group of female members); Friends of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts; President's Club, Michigan State University; Founders Society, Detroit Institute of Arts; Lansing Rotary Club. Jennie was vice chairman of the Michigan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; co-chairman of the Mid-Michigan Campaign Committee for Michigan State University Performing Arts Society; and Honorary Alumnus of Michigan State University.
As a patron of the arts, the University of Utah Museum of Art named a gallery after her and her sister, LaReta Madsen. Jennie donated many important works of art to the Detroit Institute of Arts, particularly in the area of Asian Art and French Decorative Arts. She also endowed the Museum of Art at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Jennie was an active lifetime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and her husband, Howard, were instrumental in establishing the LDS Student Living Center in Michigan State University. It has housed over 4,000 students during the last 28 years.
Funeral Services will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, February 19, 2000 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 431 East Saginaw, East Lansing. Friends may call at the Estes-Leadly Funeral Home, 325 West Washtenaw, Lansing, from 7-9 p.m., February 18, 2000. Memorial Services will be held at the Bloomfield Hills Stake Center on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 4 p.m., Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions could be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, c/o President Bruce Dale, 2865 Hagadorn Road, Mason, MI 48854. Please designate whether the contribution is for the Nauvoo Temple Fund (under construction) or the LDS Student Living Center at Michigan State University.