Miles, Ella Sophie (Nielsen) 1907 – 2000

MILES, NIELSEN, SWANSON, PAGEL

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/7/2016 at 12:39:09

Source: Riceville Recorder April 6, 2000, P.A2
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee

Ella Sophie Miles, 92, Riceville

A memorial service was held Saturday, April 8 at First Congregational Church, Riceville, for Ella Sophie Miles, 92, Riceville, who died Tuesday, April 4, 2000, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

The Revs. Thomas Mowbray and Rev. Dan Duggan officiated at the 11 a.m. services. Interment will be at a later date in Riverside Cemetery at Riceville.

She was born July 18, 1907 in Gronhaj, Denmark, daughter of Lars and Louise Nielsen. She was the fourth youngest of 12 children. She worked as a nanny for a family in Instrup and later as a mother's helper in Copenhagen to earn money for her passage to the United States while she waited for her quota number to be reached.

At the age of 17, she arrived in the U.S. to join her brother, Niels and Sister, Marie, realizing she may never be reunited with her family again. She landed at Ellis Island Immigration Center Nov. 24, 1924 and came to Iowa by train where she lived with her sister and family and attended country school for six weeks to learn the English language.

She worked at Kakac's store and in their home at Saratoga. This is where she met Donald Miles, and they were married Dec. 8, 1926. They farmed east of Riceville and lived there until Donald's death in 1984.

She served on the Howard County Social Welfare Board for over 40 years and was a member of the Congregational Church and the Eastern Star. She enjoyed gardening, needlepoint, knitting, cooking, travel, family and neighbors. Although she never saw her parents again, she made several trips to Denmark to visit relatives.

Survivors include two sons, Nelson and wife, Kay, of Green Valley, Arizona; Philip and his wife, Arlene, Prescott, Arizona; two daughters, Louise Swanson, Mason City, Iowa and Linda Pagel, Sumner, Iowa. Also a sister, Carla, in Denmark; 17 grandchildren; 31 great¬grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald, in 1984; daughter-in-law, Marjorie, in 1957; two son-in-laws. Dale Swanson and Russel Pagel, both in 2000, and two granddaughters, Susan in 1966 and Denise in 1963.

Lindstrom Funeral Home, Riceville, was in charge of arrangements.