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| Esther L. Millard, Age 88 |
| Visitation Location: |
Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN |
| Visitation Date/Time: |
Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM |
| Funeral Time: |
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 1:00 PM |
| Funeral Location: |
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, MN |
| Burial Location: |
Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, MN |
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ESTHER L. MILLARD, 88
Sauk Rapids
January 18, 1924 ~ January 24, 2012
Esther Lorraine Millard, age 88, Sauk Rapids, MN died Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at the St. Cloud Hospital.
Funeral services will be Friday, January 27, 2012 at 1:00 PM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. CLoud, MN. Visitation will be Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Burial will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, MN.
Esther was born January 18, 1924 in Ortley, SD to Elmer and Tilda (Nelson) Mikkelson. She graduated from Canby High School, Canby, MN and attended Normal School (teacher’s training school). Esther taught in a one-room country school house for one year before marrying her high school sweetheart, Donald Millard, on August 14, 1943 in Muskogee, OK. Don and Esther moved several times before settling in Sauk Rapids where they raised nine children.
Esther worked with the flowers and plants that she loved so much; first at Bachman’s European Flower Mart in Byerly’s then at Juneman’s and Bergen’s greenhouses. She belonged to the African Violet Club, the Rose Society, and the St. Cloud Flower and Garden Club and enjoyed showing her flower arrangements in local competitions. Esther was also a life member of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. She earned a Minnesota Master Gardener certification and served as judge for flower arranging competitions at county fairs around the state. Esther was flattered to be invited as a guest “flower lady” on WJON radio in the 70’s and 80’s. She was a long time active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud.
Esther is remembered by her large family as a gentle, kind and hardworking Norwegian woman. Her passion was growing and arranging flowers, but she was also a talented cook and tended large vegetable gardens,
Survivors include her children, Richard (Judy) Millard of St. Louis Park, MN; Larry Millard of West Fargo, ND; Doug (Colleen) Millard of Sartell, MN: Gail (Jim) Leikvoll of Little Falls, MN; David (Nancy) Millard of Lakeland, MN; Roger (Jerri) Millard of Monticello, MN: Mary (Richard) Vouk of Albany, MN; Debra (Tom) Robison of St. Paul, MN; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; brothers, Ervin (Darlene) Mikkelson of Ortonville, MN; Herbert (Dorothy) Mikkelson of Sioux Falls, SD; and sister, Gladys Strand of Clarkfield, MN.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Don, on October 2, 2011, daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Alan Friendshuh, daughter-in-law, Rita Millard, sister and brother-in-law, Hazel and Ted Abel, infant brother, Ervin Mikkelson, and three grandchildren, Kimberly and Scott Vouk, and Tina Millard.
Memorials are preferred to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society. |
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