EDITH MILLER

Miller, Edith Hansen age 99 of Binford, North Dakota, passed away on January 2, 2017 surrounded by loved ones. Edith was born to Nils and Maren Hansen on June 26, 1917 in Spearhill, Manitoba, Canada. In 1934 Edith followed big sister Anna to North Dakota where she would help Anna and her husband Elmer A. Miller with their babies. It was during this time Edith would meet her future husband Elmer O. Miller. Edith returned home to Winnipeg but continued to keep in touch with the much older Elmer O. They were pen pals and visited each other until finally, in 1936, Elmer O. proposed in a letter. On May 25, 1937 Edith carried a bouquet of Prairie Roses down the stairs of her family’s home and married Elmer. Edith moved to North Dakota and became a U.S. Citizen. Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Miller rented a farm near Binford where they would have their first two children, David and Darrell. Elmer and Edith would move to Aneta where they rented his brother Art’s old farm. Edith had four more children; Keith, Nancy, Norman, and Mavis. Edith would take correspondence courses to become a nurse’s aide. She did this while caring for her children and working on the farm. She would find work at the Grigg’s County Hospital in Cooperstown, and continue to be employed there for over 40 years. Edith’s greatest joy was taking care of the babies in the hospital. In the summer of 1963, Elmer put the foundation down for their home in Binford. The entire family helped move the house to its final location, even the children pitched in. They loved being with family, telling stories, and enjoying each other’s company. After the kids moved out and had families of their own, everyone would return to Binford for big family get togethers for the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Grandpa and Grandma had gifts for everyone. Edith at one time or another knit something for everyone; a gift truly made with love. After presents were unwrapped, kids big and small rolled around in the pile of discarded wrapping paper, a Miller family tradition! Everyone loved going up to see Grandpa and Grandma. Edith spent her time in the kitchen making food, serving the food, wrapping up the food and serving some more food to make sure everyone had food for now and food for the road. Lefse and turkey sandwiches for everyone! Edith and Elmer loved to listen to Gospel music on the radio. They survived many tragedies, financial struggles, and difficult times with only their faith and love. After almost 52 years of marriage, Elmer died at home in his sleep in 1989. Edith’s faith did not falter, a remarkable God-fearing woman. Edith loved her nature walks, walking around town and talking to friends and neighbors. She was a member of the Bethany Free Lutheran Church. Edith would spend her winters in the Twin Cities. She would return every spring until her health started to decline and keeping up the family home was too much. Edith survived breast cancer and open heart surgery. Edith spent the majority of the past 25 years living with family in Minnesota. Although she was miles away from home in Minnesota, Edith enjoyed staying connected by having her Griggs County Courier delivered in the mail. And today it seems she is miles away from all of us, but we know she is home in Heaven and will always be connected to our hearts. Edith is preceded in death by loving husband Elmer O. Miller, parents, siblings and sons David and Darrell. Survived by son Keith (Linda) Miller, daughter Nancy Mlynarczyk, son Norm Miller, daughter Mavis (Phil) Schumacher, grandchildren, Lonnie, Lychelle, Julie, Paul, Tracy, Tina, Colby, Logan, Brandon, Jacob, 17 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and other relatives in the U.S. and Canada. Funeral service at 2:00PM Saturday with visitation one hour prior at Bethany Free Lutheran Church, 410 Sullivan St., Binford ND 58416 Quam Plaisted Cushman Funeral Home, Cooperstown ND www.quamplaistedcushman.com