Miller, Ethel Falk (Roberg) Manhoff 1921 - 2015

MILLER, ROBERG, MANHOFF, MOODY

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 1/23/2015 at 13:21:58

Ethel Roberg Miller, age 93, of Decorah, died Wednesday morning, January 14, 2015, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Rev. Chad Huebner and Rev. Richard Simon Hanson officiating. Private Inurnment will be in the Phelps Cemetery in Decorah in the spring.

Ethel Falk (Roberg) Manhoff Miller was born on April 29, 1921 in Decorah, Iowa to Hans and Irene (Moody) Roberg. She was christened on Sunday, July 24, 1921 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, Iowa, by Pastor I.B. Torrison. She graduated from Decorah High School. Music was one of her first loves since the age of three. In high school, she was actively involved in music and drama. Ethel, at this time, won the State of Iowa vocal contest, singing “Il Baccio”, and also won the State National Forensic Speech Contest.

Ethel’s formal vocal training began at Luther College. Later she studied voice at Drake University in Des Moines and the Cosmopolitan School of Music in Chicago. She holds a B.F.A. degree from Drake University and the M.F.A. in Oral Interpretation of Literature from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Ethel was a teacher of Fine Arts and English and was a Remedial Reading specialist in the Riverside, California Unified School District. Ethel was united in marriage with Alfred J. Manhoff on April 3, 1960 at Hope Lutheran Church in Riverside, California. Alfred died on May 30, 1985 and was buried in Decorah, Iowa. She was then united in marriage with Rev. Eldon R. Miller on June 10, 1989. Eldon was a minister for 44 years. He served as minister of Faith Lutheran Church in Sun City, California from 1977 to February 1988, when he retired. He passed away on September 16, 1998.

Ethel earned awards as a vocalist, actress, theatre director (educational and community), writer, artist and photographer. Her hobbies included art, music, reading, writing, gardening, presentation of interpretive reading programs, photography and theater performances. She has won honors in both art and community theatre work. Some of the theatre productions in which she played leading roles are: Glass Menagerie, Cry Havoc, Royal Family, The Grass Harp, Buy Me Blue Ribbons, The House of Bernarda Alba, An Enemy of the People, and Journey to Judgement. Ethel did volunteer work for the Menifee Valley Medical Center Admitting Office and was a story reader for three to five-year-old children at the Sun City library. She served Faith Lutheran Church as a communion server, assisting minister, assisting with Lenten drama presentations, lector and vocalist. Ethel was a member of University Women, Women’s Club, Choral Club, Sun City Camera Club from 1978 to 1991 and was founder and director of the Stage I Theatre in Sun City in 1978.

Ethel became a resident of Aase Haugen Home in Decorah in August 2012.

She was preceded in death by her father Hans in January 1970, her mother Irene in November 1978, her two husbands, and her sister Lorraine on July 16, 2013.

Ethel is survived by her close friends and guardians, Jane and Tom Brashears of Orange, California.

Memorials may be given to Aase Haugen Senior Services, 4 Ohio Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101 or Vennehjem, 1102 Nordic Drive, Decorah, IA 52101.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Phelps Cemetery
 

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