Evelyn A. Miller, 98, passed Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at the Washington County Nursing Home in Akron, having lived there exactly 4 years.
Evelyn was born June 27, 1914 the oldest daughter of Elza and Edna (Russell) Root in Palmyra, NE.
Thoughts of Elza and Edna buying land in that area seemed much too costly, as the home they were living in was to be sold in an estate. Looking at farmland east of Denver, Elza decided to buy a farm in the spring of 1919 located 5 ½ miles south of Platner, across the road from Elza's brother, Charles. On March 3, 1920, Elza, Edna, brother Arthur, Evelyn, and sister Elna arrived in Platner with 3 emigrant rail cars loaded with their cows, horses, farm machinery and household furnishings. It was 3 days before their railroad cars could be unloaded and brought to their farm, due to blowing wind and dirt storm. Work on the farm never seemed to be finished. Twice a day they milked 20-30 cows, fed hogs, and raised chickens. Evelyn had many stories about taking her dog and riding her horse out on the prairie to gather cows to be milked. Times were hard. Many times there wasn't enough money to pay the interest due on their farm note.
Evelyn, her brother Art and sister Elna attended Ashland Country School through the 8th grade. She attended and graduated from Platner High School in 1932. She talked of playing on the girls' basketball team for Platner, which was quite good.
Evelyn and her sister loved to go to dances, which is where she met John Miller. They began seeing each other and their relationship grew together in friendship and love. John was farming with his parents and Evelyn was helping her family on their farm. They found that they had a lot in common and spent more and more time together, enjoying each other's company.
In May 1942, John got notice to be drafted into the US Army. He was stationed in Texas and California training as a radio communications operator. Evelyn and John continued to correspond at a distance, sharing their feelings for each other. When John was home on furlough in May of 1943, he and Evelyn married on May 6 in the Lutheran Church in Otis. They honeymooned in Denver before John returned to camp in Palacios, Texas. Evelyn joined him there later and was with him until he received orders for overseas duty, upon which she returned to Platner to live with her family. John was discharged from the Army in February 1946 and returned to civilian life with Evelyn at the farm northwest of Otis to resume farming.
Evelyn's dad, Elza, after several years of failing health, suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 64 in February of 1946. In August of 1949, Evelyn's mother left their farm and moved to a home in Akron. Evelyn and John continued working the farm and building their lives. They were blessed with 5 children. Richard Allan born in 1944 and John Arthur born in 1945, both of whom died in infancy. Judith Ann was born in 1948, Connie Jean in 1950, and Bette Jolynn in 1956 (on John's birthday).
Evelyn and John continued farming as they raised their children. They were actively involved with the Lutheran Church, the Otis School, and community.
Evelyn's mother, Edna, lived to be 90 years of age. She passed July 7, 1975. Evelyn's husband, John, passed away suddenly after surgery on February 21, 1981in Brush, CO at the age of 69. Evelyn continued living on their farm. She enjoyed her garden and flowers. Her special formula for fertilizer was 2 scoops of straw and chicken manure and liquid from cow chips soaked overnight in a bucket of water. The strawberry plants really produced. When she got her straw bonnet hat and an old long sleeved shirt of John's on, she was ready to go to work.
She stayed interested and active in the Senior Citizen Center, Jolly Good Neighbors Extension Club, quilting club, Lutheran Ladies Group, and babysitting her grandchildren. She enjoyed doing embroidery, making many sets of tea towels and pillow cases along with continued love of playing the piano up into her late years.
When Evelyn turned 90 in 2005, Connie moved in with her on the farm to be close and help in her care. She stayed at the farm until February 19, 2009 when she entered the Washington County Nursing Home, where she living until her passing on February 19, 2013.
God blessed Evelyn with good family, good many friends, reasonably good health, and a good long life. God blessed us with having her for over 98 good years.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents Elza and Edna Root, brother Arthur Root and wife Zelda, husband John Miller, two infant sons, brother –in-law Chester Kinnison, sister-in-law Mollie Lamb and husband Roy.
She is survived by her sister Elna Kinnison; daughters Judy (Bob) Liesk, Connie Miller, Bette (Lonny) Patterson; 7 grandchildren Robert "Scott" (Julia) Leisk, Michael (Christy) Leisk and John (Halie) Leisk, Sara (Jon) Botkin, Amy (Nick) Grantham, John P. Patterson, and Haley Patterson; 9 great-grandchildren Kennice, Kyleigh, Andrew and Alexander Leisk (identical twins), Nicola, Michala Leisk, and Katie Leisk; Charlee Ann Grantham and Evelyn Botkin. She is also survived by nieces Cheryl (Ron) Hicklin and Elza Ann (Richard) Parker, as well as two life-long friends Vera Cunningham and Carolina Thomas and a host of acquaintances and friends.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Otis with Pastor Scott Bieker officiating. Interment will follow at the Otis Cemetery. Pallbearers were Michael Leisk, John Patrick Patterson, Lonny Patterson, Nick Grantham, Stan Sunderman, and Joe Shafer. Memorial donations may be made to the Otis Senior Center, the Washington County Nursing Home, St. Paul Lutheran Church, or to the VFW Auxiliary #8064. Bowin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.