1932
Margaret
2009
Margaret Miller
May 7, 1932 — September 23, 2009
Margaret Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Holland) Braun, was born May 7, 1932 at the Barrett Ranch in Herman, Minnesota. For the first seven years of Margaret’s schooling she attended country school near Herman. She then went to the Donnelly School for a few years and later graduated from Alberta High School in Alberta.
On September 6, 1951, Margaret was united in marriage to Edward J. Miller. Following their marriage, the couple farmed in various areas of Stevens County for many years, before moving to Morris in 1969. Margaret started her daycare career after a couple of friends found the need for exceptional care for their children. After Margaret was widowed at a very early age and left with several young children at home to raise, her daughter, Jeanne, joined her and continued caring for daycare children until the day she died. Margaret provided daycare for 37 years. Who can count the number of children whose lives Grandma Margaret touched!
Margaret thoroughly enjoyed spending time with and watching her grandchildren’s activities, doing crossword puzzles, reading, ironing, and also was a dedicated Minnesota Twins fan. Margaret was a member of Assumption Catholic Church, a member of Christian Mothers, and very involved over the years in various activites in the church. Margaret thoroughly enjoyed helping to raise the MANY children who called her Grandma. Margaret really had a special connection with the babies at the daycare. She was asked for advice on raising kids MANY times over the years. One of Margaret’s favorite things was to go for a cruise in her Dodge Stratus to unwind at the end of the day. Margaret was very well known for her wonderful baking and cooking abilities. Everyone knew that she made the absolute best chocolate chip cookies, homemade buns, brown bread, and caramel rolls, just to name a few. Whenever you walked in her house, you felt like you were at home. One of her very special traits was that she made everyone feel that they were part of her extended family. If you didn’t have a place to go, you were always welcome into her home. When all of the Miller clan was together, especially around the holidays, you could usually find a very active and competitive game of cards. It was known by all around the table that Margaret did not like to lose! And if she did, the cards went flying.
Margaret died on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 in Glenwood, Minnesota, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She lived to reach the age of 77 years.
Margaret is survived by seven daughters: Joenne (Craig) Schmidgall of Morris, Mary (Kevin) Phelan of Plymouth, Colleen Miller of Morris, Judy (Jim) Taylor of Waukesha, WI, Jeanne (Dan) Koehntop of Donnelly, Ann (Mark) Vipond of Norcross and Marilyn (Brian) Truwe of Rogers; two sons: Jeff (Nancy) Miller of Morris and Robert (Darla) Miller of Elbow Lake; 14 grandchildren: Jamie (Adam) Schneider, Brenda Taylor, Ashley Schmidgall, Adam Schmidgall, Tiffany (Justin) Thorstad, Kristi (Brian) Werner, Justin Koehntop, Nicholas Vipond, Nathan Vipond, Crystal (Blair) Herman, Beau Fabian, Buzz Miller, Eddie Truwe and Anna Truwe; Five great-grandchildren: Oliver Schneider, Maxwell Schneider, Teagen Werner, Braeden Thorstad and Gianna Herman; one brother: William (Gen) Braun of Morris; one sister: Irene Raths of Morris; sister-in-law: Deloris Braun of Morris and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband: Edward Miller, her parents; infant grandson: Bradford Taylor; four brothers: James, Joseph, Donald and Willard Braun and two sisters: Agnes Kopel and Joan Braun.
Pallbearers for the service are Margaret’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Ashley Schmidgall, Adam Schmidgall, Jamie Schneider, Brenda Taylor, Nicolas Vipond, Nathan Vipond, Buzz Miller, Beau Fabian, Crystal Herman, Justin Koehntop, Kristi Werner, Tiffany Thorstad, Eddie Truwe, Anna Truwe, Maxwell Schneider, Oliver Schneider, Teagen Werner, Braeden Thorstad and Gianna Herman. Honorary pallbearers are all of Grandma Margaret’s Daycare Kids. Zach Roberts will serve as pianist for the service. Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
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