Mildred Karber

Mildred Fay Liston Karber 91, of Grand Junction, passed away peacefully Feb. 19 at Israel Hospice House in Ames surrounded by her family.

A celebration of her life will be held at 4 p.m. on March 8 at the First Presbyterian Church in Grand Junction. Visitation is March 7 from 6-8 p.m. at  the Carson Stapp Funeral Home in Ogden.   

Mildred Faye Smittle Liston Karber was born September 26, 1922 to John William Smittle and Alma Faye (Snyder) Smittle in Grand Junction. Mildred grew up in Grand Junction graduating from East Grand Junction School in 1940. She attended Mercy College of Nursing in Sioux City, graduating in 1944. She practiced nursing in various venues including Dallas County Hospital, the Evangelical Nursing Home in Boone, and she enjoyed private duty.

Mildred was united in marriage to John Roger Liston July 1, 1950. Mildred and Roger farmed until 1961 after which they moved to Beaver.  Mildred’s life was dedicated to caring for her family and raising her children. She enjoyed baking, gardening, fishing, bird watching and tending to her roses and orchids in later years. Roger passed away in 1982 after 32 years of marriage.  On April 11, 1998, Mildred married Melvin Karber, DVM of Grand Junction. Mildred and Mel enjoyed making and sharing wine with their numerous friends, fishing, gardening and playing cribbage.

Mildred is survived by her children: Roger Liston (Patty) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Dorris Sanden (John) of Ames, Pam Peer (Ray) of Castle Rock, WA, Budd Liston (Nancy) of Liberty, MO, John Liston (Kim) of Moingona, Margaret Liston (Gerald) of Ogden, Jean Krueger (Paul) of Katy, Texas; 17 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; step-children: Penny Tiffany of Grand Junction, Steve Karber (Julie) of Jefferson, Kriss Karber (Natalie) of Bettendorf and Greg Karber of Jefferson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands: Roger and Melvin; sister Dorris; brother-in-law Jean Hamlet; brother Robert and sister-in-law Betty Smittle.

Memorials may be left to First Presbyterian Church, 302 12th Street, Grand Junction, IA, 50107.

Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home of Jefferson, 515-386-2171, www.sliningerrossowfuneralhome.com