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MILLER, Rebecca (Rath) 1921-2008

MILLER, RATH, WALKER, HUNSICKER, HALL

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 9/2/2014 at 23:55:35

[Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Sunday, July 6, 2008]

WATERLOO - Rebecca Miller, 87, a lifelong resident of Waterloo, died Sunday, June 29, 2008. She had been in declining health for several years, but lived at home until March when she was hospitalized with a blood disorder.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Waterloo, with burial in Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 7.

Mrs. Miller was born in Waterloo on June 21, 1921, the second child of Neva Walker Rath of La Porte City and Ruben Alvin Rath of Waterloo. Her father was later to head Rath Packing Co., Waterloo, which had its roots in Dubuque, where his grandfather, George Rath, began packing meat in the 1850s.

She was raised in the Highland neighborhood, attended Grout and McKinley elementary schools, and graduated from Waterloo East High School in 1939. She attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo., from 1939 to 1941, where she was president of her class. In 1943 she graduated from the University of Colorado. She was married in Waterloo to Dr. Richard L. Miller, also of Waterloo, in 1944. After his medical training was finished, they returned to Waterloo in 1952 to raise their family.

After a divorce and her children left home, she returned to a college interest in French. She took graduate course work in French at the University of Northern Iowa, became a gourmet cook, and traveled in Europe. This led to her setting up "Le Sous Sol," a shop in her home where she sold imports from France. These included cookware and especially, "santons," finely crafted, clay sculptures of characters from Provence.

Becky loved spending time in the summer with her family at Lake Okoboji. Her presence at Omaha Beach will be greatly missed. Becky was a good friend. She loved people and developed an extensive network of friends with whom she remained in contact.

Becky enjoyed the arts. She supported the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, Waterloo Center for the Arts and Lakes Art Center near Lake Okoboji.

Mrs. Miller is survived by four children and nine grandchildren: Christopher R. and Diane Miller of Tacoma, Wash., their children, Patrick and Paul; Michael R. and Pam Miller of Roeland Park, Kan., and daughter, Lia; Judith A. and Dick Hunsicker of Linden, Ind., and daughters, Beth, Mandy and Sarah; Peter R. and Lisa Miller of Medford, Mass., and their children, Simona, Ansel and Theodore; and a sister, Jean R. Hall of Waterloo.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Richard W. Rath in 1980.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa.


 

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