Reverend William T. MILLER and his wife Lois and family arrived in Beaconsfield in June of 1952, coming from Kellerton, Iowa. Prior to that time, Rev. MILLER had served in the Methodist churches of Luxenburg, Massachusetts, Weldon & Van Wert, Iowa, Liberty Center, Iowa, and Lamoni, Iowa.

Lois was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and Rev. MILLER in Iowa. They graduated from North High School and Drake University in Iowa, and from Boston University School of Theology in Boston, Massachusetts. Lois' father was an Iowan Methodist minister.

During World War II, William served with as a paratrooper in the Airborne Army; Lois served in the Cadet Nurse Corps.

William served as a Superintendent of the Mascon City District and as an Iowa Annual Conference officer. He was the senior pastor of the West Des Moines, Boone, Red Oak, and other Iowa churches after leaving the Beaconsfield - Grand River pastorate. Although he retired in 1992, William served part-time to an open country rural church, the Centennial United Methodist at Ivy, Iowa.

Of William and Lois' four children: Rhea graduated from Episcopal Divinity School at Cambridge, Massachussetts and was an elected County Supervisor of San Juan Islands, Lopez, Washington; William R. "Bill" retired after 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy as a decorated Medical Officer with Special Forces; Brian T. earned a 3rd degree from Duke University and was a United Methodist minister in Independence, Virginia; and, Timothy R. was the senior ministor of the Little Log Church at Palmer Lake near the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

SOURCE: Beaconsfield Centennial book, p. 41-2.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2010