Miller, Esther Ruby Jeanette (Stephens) 1915-2006
MILLER, STEPHENS, BUER, ANDERSON, BERGAN, FRETHEIM, FINHOLT, BORNESS, BAISDEN, VANDEKROL, GUYER, NORGARD, HAUGEN
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/4/2012 at 10:58:10
Esther R. Miller, age 90, of Decorah, Iowa, died Monday, February 13, 2006 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 18, 2006 at Decorah Lutheran Church by Rev. James Glesne with burial in Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah.
Friends may call from 4:00-8:00 P.M. Friday, February 17, 2006 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and an hour prior to the services on Saturday at the church.
Esther Ruby Jeanette Miller was born May 23, 1915, in Capital, Montana, the daughter of Melvin T. and Josephine (Buer) Stephens. After three weeks in Capital, where her mother had stayed for the services of a midwife, Esther’s parents brought her to the family homestead near Camp Crook, in Harding County, South Dakota. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Gustave, South Dakota, and confirmed on June 16, 1929, at Decorah Lutheran Church. In 1918 the family relocated to Decorah, the earlier home of her parents. For the remainder of her life, Esther resided in Winneshiek County, except for two years spent in Iowa City. She attended rural schools until her family moved into Decorah in 1925. Esther then attended public school and graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 1933 at Decorah High School. She attended the Decorah College for Women, and Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She then taught in Frankville and Burr Oak schools of Winneshiek County.
Esther was united in marriage with Frank Roy Miller on June 8, 1938, at Decorah Lutheran Church. To their union, five daughters were born: Marilyn, Donna, Elaine, Mary Jo and Diane.
Following their marriage, Esther joined Frank in Iowa City where he was a second year law student. Upon his graduation, the couple returned to Decorah and Frank practiced law until his death in 1977.
Esther, an active member of Decorah Lutheran Church for over 80 years, served in many capacities. She taught Sunday School, served as President of the Woman’s Missionary Society, was a member of WELCA and served on the church council. In her later years, Esther enjoyed participating in the church’s quilting projects.
Esther served her community in many ways. She was a member of the Luther College Heritage Club and the President’s Council. She was a member of the Decorah School Board for six years and was deeply involved in Girl Scouting, as a troop leader, camping coordinator and President of the Decorah Girl Scout Council. Esther served on the Vesterheim Museum Board of Directors, Porter House Board, and was a member of Luther College Women’s Club, Winneshiek County Hospital Auxiliary, Winneshiek County Historical Society, Winneshiek Genealogy Society, Travel Club and the Carry–On Club. Esther was awarded the Luther College Distinguished Service Award in 1971 and was chosen to be Grand Marshall of the Nordic Fest Parade in 2004.
Hooked rug crafting became her avocation. She attended Decorah Rug School in 1971 and has attended every year since. In 1975 she attended the National McGown Rug Guild School to qualify as a McGown Rug Teacher. She and her student and co-worker Ann Duder established the Minowa Rug Guild, the first chapter of the National Guild in Iowa. She served as the director of the Decorah Rug School for 13 years.
Esther enjoyed traveling and camping with family and friends. She enjoyed hosting others in her home, reading, watercolor and table games.
Esther died on Monday, February 13, 2006, at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah at the age of 90 years.
Survivors include five daughters, Marilyn (Albert) Anderson, Donna (Daryl) Bergan, Elaine (Emory) Fretheim, Mary Jo (Stanley) Finholt, and Diane (David) Borness, all of Decorah; fourteen grandchildren, Andrew (Karen) Anderson, Eric Anderson, Steven (Lori) Bergan, Michael (Carol) Bergan, Kari (David) Baisden, Donald Bergan, Christopher (Cindy) Fretheim, Daniel (Kerry) Fretheim, Jonathan Fretheim, JoLynn (Brad) Miller, Kristin (Scott) VandeKrol, David (Jill) Finholt, Shanna (Monte) Guyer, and Keith Borness; twenty-six great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; three sisters, Marcella Norgard of Cedar Rapids, IA, Evelyn Stephens of the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, IA, and Vernell Haugen of Eugene, Oregon; a sister-in-law, Marty Miller of Rochester, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank on March 29, 1977, and a grandson, Mitchell Fretheim in 1988.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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