Marlyce Miller

Marlyce Jean Miller, age 87 of St. Mary's Point, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly on July 20, 2023, at her home. Marlyce was born March 7, 1936, on the family farm in Langford, South Dakota to Olaf and Hattie (Waage) Johnson. She graduated from Langford High School before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota where she eventually took a job with Prudential Insurance. Marlyce met Donald Miller on a blind date in September of 1957. The pair fell in love and were united in marriage on June 21, 1958, at Falnes Lutheran Church in Langford, South Dakota. The couple was blessed with three children, Steven, Jeffrey, and Julie. Marlyce enjoyed raising her children and taught them the value of kindness and resourcefulness.

As the children grew up, Marlyce eventually started working part time outside the home. In 1977, she began working as a Benefits Administrator at Honeywell. She truly loved her job because of the comradery with her coworkers, and the chance it gave her to help others. Marlyce retired from Honeywell in 1998 after working there for 21 years.

Marlyce loved her family and cherished the time she spent with her seven wonderful grandchildren. She lavished her family with wonderfully cooked Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter meals with all the trimmings. She was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church wherever she lived, and she spent much of her time supporting its mission: playing piano and organ for church services at Falnes while she was growing up, singing in the choir, participating in Bible studies and Women's Circle, and making quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She also made handmade quilts for each of her grandchildren when they graduated high school. She mastered the difficult art of stitching Hardanger embroidery, a Norwegian tradition, that she gifted to friends and family.

She was fond of helping others and cherished providing a safe space for those in need. She assisted and became life-long friends with Vietnamese refugees sponsored by her church, and opened her home to a young Laotian refugee as well as others who were in need. Marlyce taught Sunday School classes for residents at the Cambridge State Hospital and often invited them to her home as well.

Marlyce will remain in the hearts of her husband of 65 years, Don; children Steven Miller (Patricia Brewer), Jeffrey (Terri) Miller, and Julie (Matthew) Schmidt; grandchildren Kathleen (Brodan Richter) Miller, and Evan Miller; Brandon, Lance, and Lindsay Miller; Aaron and Sophia Schmidt; brother Virgil (Ruth) Johnson; sister-in-law Alice Johnson; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents Olaf and Hattie Johnson; and siblings, Alice (Clifford) Larson, Jeanette (Leslie) Tompkins, Orlyn Johnson, and Mary Ann (Robert) Johnson.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Marlyce's life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Memorial Lutheran Church, 15730 Afton Blvd S, Afton, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to Memorial Lutheran Church and Charity Water.
 

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