Lucille Ethel Miller, 90, Wadena, passed away Tuesday morning, May 29, 2007, at Fair Oaks Lodge.
She was born June 22, 1916, to Howard C. and M. Ethel (Warren) Wood in Wadena Township. She graduated from Wadena High School. On July 12, 1941, she married John C. Miller Jr. at her parents' home. The couple made their home in rural Verndale. She taught in area rural schools and at the Verndale High School. She continued her education at St. Cloud Teachers College, advancing to a master's level. She taught English at the Staples High School for 23 years. She was a finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 1981.
She was a charter member of the Country Gardens Club, member of the Central United Methodist Women, a Sunday school teacher, a 4-H leader, a member of the Red Hat organization in Arizona, and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma honor society. She enjoyed growing and arranging flowers, oil painting, traveling, fishing, entertaining, reading, journaling, and listening to music and Twins' games.
Funeral services were held Saturday, June 2, at Central United Methodist Church in rural Verndale with the Rev. Jill Pawlowski officiating. Interment will be in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Verndale. The honorary pallbearers were Lucille's nieces and nephews. The active pallbearers were Mark Wood, Kenneth Baker, John Miller, Scott Borchers, Brian Borchers, and Dr. Matt Logan. The Johnson Memorial Home of Wadena was in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include her daughter, Maureen Baker of Verndale; son, John (Kaetche) of Seattle; one grandson; sister, Elaine Gaylor of Buffalo; brother, Laurence (Betty) Wood of Wadena; and sisters-in-law, Gladys Oliver of Buckley, Wash., and Ruby Wood of Portland, Ore. She is preceded in death by her husband, John, in 2005; her parents; sister, Ruth Wood; brother, Kenneth Wood; one granddaughter; and son-in-law, Norman Baker.
