Betty Miller

Betty June Miller, daughter of Henry and Anna Jochimsen Segebart, was born on her family’s farm in Crawford County on June 16, 1929. She passed away May 29 at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison at the age of 89.

Betty was baptized in Christ on Aug. 17, 1929, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison and confirmed her faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla on April 2, 1944. She received her grammar school education at East Boyer Twp. country school and graduated from Manilla High School with the class of 1947. 

On Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, Betty was united in marriage with Allen H.C. Miller at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla. Betty and Allen were blessed with five children — Alana, Amy, Harris, Tom and Angie. 

In 1981, Betty lost the love of her life when Allen died of a sudden heart attack and Betty entered into her life as a single parent.

Although Betty was employed at Denison Professional Cleaners for approximately 10 years beginning in the early ’70s, being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother was her most treasured occupation. She nurtured, encouraged, cherished and took great pride in her children and made sure they were raised in a good Christian home. 

She especially loved family gatherings, spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and playing card games with them, sometimes very late into the night. Her grandchildren loved her zest for life and would often stay with her during summer vacation for extended lengths of time, occasionally even bringing some of their friends to stay with Grandma Betty. 

She was very active and loved playing softball, yard darts, bocce ball and any other outside games her grandkids could talk her into. Betty’s best friend was her sister, Madonna, and together with other friends they traveled, bowled on a women’s league, went fishing, played bingo, had card parties and enjoyed life. 

Betty was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, a former member of Zion Lutheran Church and very active member of its Ladies Aid. She was currently a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church and had also been a very active member of their Women’s Guild. 

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Allen; one son, Tommy Miller; one son-in-law, Robert Carlson; two brothers, Alex Segebart and his wife, Frances, and Carl Segebart; one sister, Madonna Segebart; parents-in-law Harry and Flora Miller; brother-in-law Marvin Miller; and sisters-in-law Irene Oldfield and her husband, Barney, and Ruth Gorham and her husband, Max. 

Survivors include three daughters: Alana Curnyn and her husband, John, of Jefferson; Amy Carlson, of Valley, Neb.; and Angela Miller, of Denison; one son, Harris Miller, and his wife Anna, of Fort Worth, Texas; one daughter-in-law, Beverly VandenHull, of Denison; two sisters-in-law, Berniece Segebart, of Denison, and Betty Ann Miller, of Hastings, Neb.; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held June 3 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison. Vicar Jared Cooksey officiated the service.

Interment was in the Nishnabotna Cemetery in Manilla. 

Organist Mary Kuhlmann provided accompaniment for congregational hymns “Beautiful Savior,” “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.” 

Serving as honorary pallbearers were Kris Hagedorn, Holly Korch, Ericka Miller, Jessica Schultz, Libby Miller, Kacie VandenHull, Jenny Pfeiffer, Kate Carlson, Erin Curnyn and Diana Bauer. 

Serving as pallbearers were Mike Carlson, Brad Pfeiffer, Tony Curnyn, Chad Korch, Zach Miller, Jon Schultz, Josh Hagedorn and Rick Bauer. 

The family invited everyone to return to the church for fellowship and lunch provided by the Women’s Guild and catered by Staley’s. 

The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements.