Hi everyone,

Early Monday afternoon (September 23), I received one of those calls that no one likes to answer (well beside robocalls, phishing attempts, and asking for money!). It was from the hospice nurse that was keeping an eye on my mother. She told me that Mom had taken a turn for the worst and if I wanted to see her one last time before she passes away then I should get on the road. Since it was nearly a 850 mile drive from Madison to western North Dakota, it would take us over 24 hours to get there arriving at about 4:30 PM Tuesday. My Traveling Partner and I spent the night with her leaving at around 6 AM for a few hours rest, a shower, and coffee. My brother took over the watch. We were about ready to return to the care center, when he called and said she passed away.

This week, in lieu of my regular travel and photography post, I’m sharing Mom’s obituary. Mom wrote most of it years ago, I added some additional information including a bit about her from the perspective of my siblings and I. We will be celebrating her life and grieving our loss over the next few days. While it was expected, it’s still hard.

Here’s a photo of Mom that I took in mid-June. She wore a kerchiefs most of her life especially when she was working outside. She never broke the habit.

Margie V. Miller

December 24, 1928 – September 25, 2024

Margie Violet Isaak Miller, age 95 years and 279 days, passed away September 25, 2024, under the care of hospice at the Knife River Care Center in Beulah, North Dakota. She was born December 24, 1928 at Krem, North Dakota to Fred and Emma (Machau) Isaak. She attended rural school north of Hazen. On June 20, 1948, Margie married Donald L. Miller. Together they farmed north of Hazen for over 50 years. She loved raising and selling poultry, milking cows, and working outdoors.

Margie was a life-long member of Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Hazen where she was baptized on January 13, 1929, and confirmed on June 27, 1943. She was a member of L.W.M.L. and held all offices. She taught Sunday School for fifty years, served as a 4-H leader of the Mannhaven 4-H Club for thirty-three years, and was member of the Riverside Homemaker’s Club for many years. Margie and Donald were foster parents to twenty-nine children. Her hobbies were sewing, quilting especially prayer quilts, and making many baptismal gowns and hankies.

Our mom was a simple, modest woman, comfortable in both barn clothes and a kerchief or her Sunday best. She valued hard work and expected the same of us and others. At family, church, and community events she worked behind the scenes, serving others before she served herself, but willing and very capable of taking on a leadership role. Mom liked to visit with family, neighbors, acquaintances, and strangers alike. Much to our embarrassment, she often freely shared the accomplishments, large and small, of her children and grandchildren. She was quick to offer her opinion when it mattered, at times without much tact. Education was of utmost importance to Mom and encouraged us to do our best in school and pursue higher education. Mom was a writer, keeping diaries and wide-lined notebooks filled with daily activities, weather information, and memories. She held strong beliefs in her Christian faith and enjoyed celebrating Christ’s birth and resurrection in equal measure.

The couple was blessed with five children: Tom (Donna) of Madison, Wisconsin; Jocelyn (Steve) Gerth of Alliance, Nebraska; Janet (Phil) Rutledge of Gulfport, Mississippi; Tim of Hazen; and Laurel (Philip) Berg of Pipestone, Minnesota. She is further survived by ten grandchildren; Melanie Miller Foster, Melissa Miller, Carrie Reiling, Rachel Reiling Eden, Ashlee Rutledge, Allison Rutledge, Samantha Berg Koep, Andrew Berg, Hannah Berg, and Isaac Berg, four step grandchildren Caley Gerth, Hannah Gerth, Logan Krebs, and Everett Gerth, three great grandchildren Adelyn, Marley, and Harper, three step great grandchildren Leah, Georgia and Janey, an honorary great grandchild Addison, one sister and brother-in-law DyAnn and Ivan Ellwein, Hazen, one brother-in-law Waldo Schulz, numerous nieces and nephews, and many special friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Donald in 2012, sister Wilma Lang and her husband Marvin, brother Gordon Isaak Sr. and his wife Marion, sisters-in-law Edris Miller Schulz and Mardel (Hal) Miller Orseth, and nephews Marcus Lang, James Isaak, Gordon Isaak Jr., and Craig Iverson.

Services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Hazen on Monday September 30, 2024 beginning at 10:00 AM. Lunch will follow at the Pick City Hall. Burial will take place Tuesday October 1, 2024 at 10:00 AM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. There will be a public visitation at Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah, North Dakota on Sunday September 29, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Memorials preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church, Knife River Care Center, and the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

She’ll be buried with my dad at the Veteran’s Cemetery. My Traveling Partner and I will join them and her parents when our time comes.

Thank you for indulging in my diversion from my normal articles.

Until next week, happy travels!

Tom