Betty Miller, 1923-2015

Published 9:37 am Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Funeral services for Betty L. Miller, 92, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Hartland. The Rev. Mark Hillmer will officiate. Interment will be at Hartland Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Betty died Thursday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester.

Betty Miller

Betty Miller

Betty Miller was born May 26, 1923, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Thomas and Beulah (Shiffer) Johannsen. She graduated from Freeborn High School in 1941. Following high school, Betty worked at E.F. Johnson Co. in Waseca. On June 30, 1946, Betty was united in marriage to Dwight Miller at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church. The couple lived and farmed on their homestead in Hartland for over 55 years and had dairy cows for over 25 years. Betty helped with all aspects of farm life including working in the fields, milking cows and preparing meals for farm hands. Neighbors and friends loved to stop by to sample her famous homemade cinnamon rolls.

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Betty was a 60-year breast cancer survivor and her faith was a big part of her life. She was a member of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church and was active in Joy Circle and ladies aid. She attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kasson and loved helping make lefse for their annual lutefisk dinner.

Survivors include her two children, Thomas (Debbie) Miller of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Karen (Lonny) Saulsbury of Kasson; grandchildren Kerry (Mark) Hanson of Rantoul, Illinois, Kristin (Paul) Nesbitt of DeForest, Wisconsin, Travis (Katherine) Vande Hey of Phoenix, Terra (Andrew) Braatz of Neenah, Wisconsin, Cayce (Chris) Gulbransen of Lakewood, Colorado, and Cory (Laura) Lillesve of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; six great-grandchildren; sister, Cleo (Ed) Simon; sister-in-law, Ethel Reistad; brothers-in-law Milburn Nelson, LaVerne Seberson and Edward Miller; special friend, Judy Sibilrud; and many nieces and nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dwight; sister, Maurene Miller; brother, Kenneth Johannsen; brother-in-law, Vernon Reistad; and sisters-in-law Evelyn Johannsen,  Phyllis Nelson, Eileen Sebersen and Arlene Miller.

The family would like to thank everyone for their overwhelming kindness during Betty’s illness and the excellent care and compassion at Seasons Hospice in Rochester.