Funeral services for Elin Karoline Jensen Miller, 88, of Bancroft Creek, formerly of Freeborn, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Freeborn Congregational United Church of Christ. The Rev. Cherie Daniel will officiate. Burial will be at the Freeborn Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Elin died peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, at the Albert Lea Medical Center, as the result of a stroke.
Elin Karoline Miller was born on March 28, 1921, in Tyler, the daughter of Jens and Dorthea (Jepsen) Jensen. Elin was raised in Tyler, where she attended and was graduated from Tyler High School in 1938. She furthered her education at GrandView College in Des Moines, Iowa, graduating in 1943. She taught country school in Kimballton, Iowa, from 1943 until 1945. Elin then attended and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1948 with a degree in home economics. She then taught Home Economics in Freeborn from 1948 until 1950. Elin was united in marriage to Robert Miller Jr. on July 31, 1949, in Tyler. The couple owned and operated the Freeborn Lumber Company, working side by side for many years where Elin was the secretary of the business. Elin enjoyed reading, bird watching, Gopher athletics, her Bible study, sewing, any family activities, traveling and visiting her relatives in Denmark and keeping up with the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed attending the fall conference at the Danebod Folk School in Tyler. Elin served as a 4-H leader, Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School teacher. She was a member of the Freeborn Congregational United Church of Christ where she was active in the Women’s Fellowship and the Church Circle. She was also a member of and active in Beta of Clovia Sorority, The Freeborn County Extension Club, Albert Lea Home Economics Club, American Legion Women’s Auxiliary and the Freeborn chapter of the Red Hat Society.
Elin is survived by her children: John and wife Cindy Miller, Karen and husband Larry Lundblad and Lynda and husband Dave Mead; grandchildren: Tiffany and husband Joel Kriesel, Jennifer and husband Kelly Anderson, Katharine and husband Jeff Nesbitt, Stephanie Lundblad, Ann Mead, Geoffrey and wife Kelsey Mead and Lauren Mead; seven great-grandchildren; brothers: Alfred Jensen and Herluf and wife Mabel Jensen; sister, Alma and husband Dick Schneider; sister-in-law, Mary Yokiel; numerous nieces and nephews including Chris and Jette Neilsen and their daughter Lisa Lotte Nielsen in Denmark.
Elin was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert B. Miller Jr.; sisters: Ingrid and husband Wayne Ahl and Thora and husband Johnny Myrhe; sister-in-law, Lida Jensen; sister-in-law, Doris and husband Henry Snater; sister-in-law, Phyllis and husband Dennis Olsen; brother-in-law, Art Yokiel; nephew, Christopher Yokiel; and three infant great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Freeborn Cemetery Association, the Freeborn Congregational United Church of Christ, or the donor’s choice.