Loving husband, father, grandpa, and "great pa", Allen Butler "Bid" Hardy, age 96, went home to heaven on Sunday, June 12, 2016. He was born November 12, 1919 in Sidney Twp., Montcalm Co., MI to Ovid O. and Myrtle M. (Butler) Hardy. Allen was raised in Stanton and graduated from Stanton High School in 1937. He proudly served three years during WWII as a "plotter" for the U.S. Army in New Guinea, part of the Pacific Theater. After the war he came back to Stanton and married Irene Vencil on June 5, 1946.

After the war, he went into partnership with his uncle, Bill Hardy, and began farming west of Stanton, continuing as a dairy farmer all of his life. He loved his job and loved to see things grow--hay, corn, cows, and kids. Allen was one of the first farmers to have a farm plan drawn up in 1950 shortly after the Montcalm County Soil Conservation District was formed, and was a director on the District Board for 10 years. His beloved Spring Lake Farm was the host of the annual 6th Grade Conservation Education Tour for over 35 years. In 1983 he was honored as one of the ten best conservation farmers in the United States. That same year he was named Michigan's Conservation Farmer of the Year.

Allen was an active member of First Congregational Church in Stanton for many years. He was a Stanton School Board member when the Stanton and Sheridan schools consolidated in 1963 and Central Montcalm High School was constructed. He was a proud supporter of the White Pine Library and the Montcalm County 4-H Fair. He was also a member of the Sidney State Bank board of directors and Sidney Township board of review. In 1987 he donated the property of his childhood home in Stanton for the purpose of building the Myrtle Mae senior apartments.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Doris Frost, Kenneth, Gerald and Harold Hardy, and foster sister Avis Elenbaas; and son-in-law Dr.Robert Steidl.

Allen is survived by his wife of 70 years, Irene; four children: Michael (Judy) Hardy of Stanton, Barbara Steidl of Monticello, IL, Carol Hardy of Greenville, Ann (Jay) Blovits of Saline, MI, and "adopted daughter" Eileen "Teeny" Heether of Greenville; seven grandchildren: Amy (Craig) Heydenburg, Bill (Jennifer) Hardy, Jason (Jeri) Hardy, Drs.Laura (Travis) Stern, Dr. Becky Steidl, Sarah (Tim) Carroll and Benjamin Blovits; ten great-grandchildren: Christina and Aaron Heydenburg, Andrew, Kaitlyn, Ryan, Caleb, Allison, Nicholas, and Mallory Hardy, and Elizabeth Stern; and two step-great grandsons: Marcus and Tyler Sleet. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 15th, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at the First Congregational Church in Stanton. The funeral service will be held Thursday at 1 pm at the church with Pastors Jamey Nichols and Mark Edwards officiating. A graveside service will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to either First Congregational Church or Trinity Baby Pantry.

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