Patricia "Pat" Miller

Patricia A. Miller, “Pat”

Pat passed to Heaven peacefully, surrounded by her family and pastor, at St. Joseph’s hospital in St. Paul, MN on January 23, 2020. She was born on October 22, 1936 at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake, ND. Due to her father’s work as a depot agent for the Great Northern Railroad, her family lived in numerous towns throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. His final assignment was in Moorhead, MN where Pat graduated from Moorhead High School.

Pat enrolled at North Dakota State University to pursue a degree in Home Economics Education, which she received in 1959. While she always had a job to help pay her way through college, she was active on campus as a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, a creative dance group, and the cheerleading squad. She also sang in the NDSU concert choir. While singing with the choir, Pat met the love of her life, John. They married at her home church, Trinity Lutheran in Moorhead, upon his graduation in 1957.

John’s employment led them first to Chicago, then to Fort Sill, OK, and finally to St. Paul where John joined Univac Corporation. It was then, in 1964, that they built their first home in Shoreview and joined Incarnation Lutheran Church. They joined the church choir and continued singing together for many years, developing many life-long friendships along the way.

Pat’s mother, Lucille Larsen, was a very caring and loving person, and Pat inherited those same attributes. As a result, the entire Miller family often travelled to Moorhead or Lake Cormorant for holidays to spend time with the grandparents, siblings and cousins. The love of Grandma Lucille nurtured close multi- family relationships. The same is true for the current generation who love to gather at “Grandma Pat’s” often. Fortunately, all the cousins and her remaining sister, Mardi, gathered for a Larsen family reunion at the Miller family cabin just seven months before Pat’s passing. Pat loved the party.

While Pat assumed major responsibility for her household and three children, she seemed to have complete faith that John would take care of the financial needs and wants of the family. This endured until John left his place of employment to start Turtle Mountain Corporation as a contract manufacturer of electronics. Soon after, Pat received a call from a close friend about jeans her son had outgrown, offering them for their son, Mike. That night she confronted John asking, “What are you doing? Are we going to be okay?” Fortunately, with Pat’s participation and hard work, it did turn out okay. She had the energy and determination to finish whatever she started.

Pat’s participation in the day-to-day operation of the company started slowly but expanded rapidly as she became more familiar with the tasks that needed to be done. She took over payroll and the family checkbook, a major change for one known as a “power shopper.” She assumed responsibility for the “at-home work program,” which involved managing experienced core memory “stringers” to assemble core memory planes. She travelled to Amery, WI and Faribault, MN to pick up finished products and to deliver new work, the worker’s paycheck and quality report card. After initial reluctance, she enjoyed these trips and meeting the women who appreciated the opportunity to work at home.

Although she was a home economics major, she learned the accounting tasks quickly. The accounting firm loved that she always worked to balance the books. If they were off by as little as a penny, she would not stop until she got them to balance. As the company grew, Pat hired Kim, a University of Minnesota accounting graduate, who later got her CPA. Together, the two of them, along with son Mike, handled many of the issues that came up in the St. Paul office, except when John was there to handle them (or so he thought). Since the manufacturing plant was 500 miles away, he was out of the office often, either selling or checking on progress at the plant. The workers at the plant loved to see Pat, and she enjoyed visiting with them. They were not hesitant to tell her what improvements they would appreciate and, of course, this input was quickly added to John’s to do list. In appreciation of her efforts, a conference room at the plant was named in her honor. Both Pat and John had mixed feelings about selling the business but the Board convinced them that it was time. Turtle Mountain Corporation was a great experience for the entire family.

At her service on January 28, 2020, her eight grandchildren remembered Pat in a eulogy, which read:

(Lexi Wheeler) “We’d like to start by thanking all of the family, friends, and loved ones who are here today to celebrate our grandmother.

(Morgan Kelly) For the families that became our own, her friends that allowed us to become their grandchildren, and, of course, to our parents, we thank you. Thank you for being involved in and including all of us in this amazing family. We have felt nothing but true love and support these last few days.

Our grandmother had the biggest heart and lived a vibrant 83 years. She welcomed people into her home with open arms and a kiss. She had a presence about her that put you at peace and made you feel at home, all while looking classy and carrying herself with grace. Today, we celebrate this amazing woman and want to share with you the many fond memories that we cherish of our time with our special grandmother. The eight of us gathered this past Sunday to collect our thoughts and memories of Grandma. We laughed and we cried, but mostly we laughed because of all the wonderful memories that we hold close to our hearts.

(Rachel Miller) We all treasure the memories that we share from when we were growing up. We’d have sleepovers together at Grandma’s house. Grandma would make us popcorn that had far too much butter on it and bring it to us alongside the perfect chocolate malt. Then, she’d kick Grandpa out of bed so we could stay up late watching movies together. We’d fall asleep to her tickling our faces and backs while singing us her lullaby. She’d sing to us:

Tell me why the stars do shine
Tell me why the ivy twines
Because God made the sky's so blue
Because God made you, that's why I love you

We’ll miss watching her wave goodbye to us out on her porch, as we slowly backed out of the driveway. She would always wait until our tail lights were out of sight before heading back inside, regardless of the temperature.

(Casey Miller) We’ll miss walking through the front door to the smell of fresh/ironed laundry, finding her tapping out a piano piece on the kitchen table while whistling along. We’ll miss watching her froth her milk for the perfect cup of coffee in the morning. We’ll miss sitting with her at the kitchen table talking about what was going on in our lives and making sure we left with food in our hands. We always attempted to help her out in the kitchen, but we had a hard time following the handwritten recipe that only she could read. We’ll miss the threatening text messages we’d get if she didn’t have a Christmas list from us by the time Halloween rolled around, knowing that we’d hear about it from her at every family dinner. We’ll miss Christmas celebrations and birthday parties with her; she made every birthday and family gathering a full-blown celebration, with lots of food, gifts, and laughs.

(Dylan Wheeler) Our memories continue as we talked through the eventful spring break trips down to the condo in Fort Myers, Florida. We’ll miss waking up to her squeezing fresh orange juice in the kitchen and cruising down to the pool in the convertible, always loaded with snacks and drinks. We’ll miss the delicious dinner celebrations, always overlooking a beautiful sunset and surrounded by so many laughs and love.

(Mitchell Wheeler) Our favorite place was the cabin which Grandma made feel like our home away from home. It is the place where we go to relax with our family and friends. We’ll miss mornings there, making ‘farmhouse’ pancakes, staying up far too late playing card games, enjoying our sunset cruises around Clam Lake, and snuggling up as a family around the campfire. These special places will always be cherished by all of us, mostly because of Grandma’s ability to make them feel like home. She would stock the cabinets, change the sheets and encourage all of us to spend the most time together as a family in the place where she was the happiest.

(Taylor Kelly) Most of all, we want to thank Grandma and Grandpa for showing us all the importance of love, family, and faith. Because of you, we grew up knowing that the best days are those that we spend together. We were lucky enough to grow up in this group of best friends. We always had one another to turn to and Grandma and Grandpa’s home to come home to. We grew up in the church - in this church - knowing the unconditional love of God. And, Grandma and Grandpa, your unconditional love for one another have made up the foundation of our lives. Although the traditions of our family will be different, we promise to carry them on in honor of her and know that she will be with us each step of the way. We have big shoes to fill.

(Ryann Kelly) Over the last few years, she had been in and out of the hospital for a variety of things. Each and every time, she fought for all of us and our parents to keep going. We know it was the love and support we all have for one another that encouraged her to keep fighting. Over these last challenging days, we found comfort knowing that the Lord was walking her home. To be reunited with her family, probably enjoying some Kendall Jackson, listening to Michael Buble and cruising around in her convertible. As we surrounded Grandma late Thursday evening, we found support in Matthew 11:28-30 which reads:

‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’

To our beautiful grandma Pat. We love you. We thank you. And we promise to live on your legacy and do our best to make you proud.”

Pat is preceded in death by her parents; Lucille and LeRoy “Bones” Larsen; sisters; Joyce Barkus and Detta Nelson; and brothers Ken and Keith Larsen.

She is survived and greatly missed by her entire loving extended family; including her husband, John; children: Mike (Vicky) Miller, Lisa Kelly, Kristi (Shell) Wheeler; grandchildren, Ryann, Taylor and Morgan Kelly; Rachel and Casey Miller; and Mitchell, Dylan and Lexi Wheeler. Sister, Mardi Overland; sister-in-law Karen Larsen; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Services were held at 12:00 noon at Incarnation Lutheran Church, Shoreview, MN on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. Burial at Incarnation Cemetery.