Funeral services for Alice I. Miller will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 20, 2017 at the Hartland Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartland, MN. The Reverend Shawn Stafford will officiate. Visitation will be from 4–7 p.m. on Thursday at the Friedrich-Bonnerup Funeral Home in New Richland, and again one hour prior to the service at the church.
Alice Irene Miller was born on the family farm on August 22, 1916, the second of five children to Lewis and Malva (Erickson) Myhre. Alice passed away at home on October 15, 2017 surrounded by her family. She was baptized in 1916 and confirmed on June 29, 1930 in Hartland. She attended country school district 98 and lived in the Hartland area most of her life except for a couple years while she worked at the defense plant in Minneapolis during WWII. She traveled there with two other friends by way of the M & St. L railroad that ran through Hartland – sometimes coming home on the weekends.
In her younger years, she worked for area farmers during harvest time, helping in the kitchens or working in the fields harvest potatoes, shocking grain, and picking corn by hand. She cleaned house for the Emil Olson family in Albert Lea for a time.
In 1954, she married Raymond Miller at the Hartland Synod Church. Alice and Ray farmed in Hartland. Ray was known as the “village farmer.” The farm had been split by Hwy. 13 with the farm site on one side and the cropland on the other. They raised chickens, milked Guernsey cows and grew corn, beans, oats, and alfalfa. They had to chase cows across busy Hwy. 13 every day to pasture and back. They retired in the ‘70s. She had many gardens on the farm and tended to them into their late 90s. She enjoyed watching the birds at the feeders outside of her picture window. At Christmas time, she enjoyed when the family sang Christmas songs together. Alice was an avid Minnesota Twins fan. She was very proud of the gifts the city of Hartland gave her at her 100th birthday party, as well as a letter from Julie Rosen, State Senator. She was a dedicated listener to KATE radio from 5 a.m. till late in the afternoon. She was a member of Hartland Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rebekah Ruth Circle, and a member of the women’s auxiliary of the Lundberg Lee post 266.
Alice is survived by her son, Duane (Dawn) Miller of Hartland, Granddaughter, Angi (Brian) of Hartland; great-granddaughter, Abby Dolph of Albert Lea; many nieces and nephews and their families; and special friends Duane (Kathy) Spooner of Hartland who helped her in many ways over the years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Raymond; sisters, Elaine Myhre, Marvel (Clifford) Johnson; brothers, Donald Myhre, Joe (Harriet) Myhre; sister and brothers in-law, Lillie (Hans) Holland, Eileen (Glen) Nelson, Arnold (Mildred) Miller, and Bing (Clara) Miller.
Alice was a loving wife and mother and will be sadly missed by her family and friends.