Betty 'Darlene' Miller
Miller, Betty 'Darlene'
20 Sep 1931 - 11 Aug 2015
Betty “Darlene” Miller, age 83 of LaVista, NE formerly of Ashland and
Plattsmouth, died Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the Papillion Manor in
Papillion. She was born September 20, 1931 in Omaha, NE to Bruce and
Myrtle (Henry) Sowards of Ashland. Darlene graduated from Ashland High
School and worked for the Ordinance Plant in Mead after graduation. At
the plant, she met her husband Donald I. Miller who she married in 1949.
After “Darlene” and Donald were married, they moved to her parents of
Myrtle and Bruce Sowards on their farm in rural south Ashland with first
son Steve and later second son Thomas born in 1954. An opportunity of
employment for Donald at Allied Chemical near LaPlatte, NE. gave them
the opportunity to move to Plattsmouth. They joined the First
Presbyterian Church in 1954, and she joined the choir, where her soprano
voice earned many accolades over the years.
While raising their two sons and helping a small business of mowing
grass in the early 60’s with son – Steve. She always made time to visit
with neighbors and friends/family and one time sold cosmetics and
Tupperware home shows. In 1965 she started at Western Electric on the
“graveyard shift” as a cable tester. Later the company became AT&T where
she was employed for over 25 years. While employed, she donated blood,
was a “WEOMA” representative for the cable shop. She really enjoyed
greeting people as they came to work, and distributed newsletters to
employees entering for work.
Her husband of 25+ years, Donald (Don) passed away in 1988. Following
her retirement from AT&T in 1991, she assisted her oldest son with his
wedding photography business as the Studio Manager until 2004.
Darlene loved music, playing piano and singing in the church choir,
which she did at Ashland’s Congregational Church for many years with her
mother (Myrtle). Her participation with PHS Band Parents, PTA’s and many
school activities at her children’s grade and high schools, along with
assisting in many farm type auction sales in the 60’s and assisting with
her late husbands Farm Implement business in Ashland in the 80’s. She
enjoyed watching her husband’s fast pitch softball games and excelled in
couples events such as bowling, playing cards and many other activities
and also sang for funeral and weddings in her later years.
She always enjoyed cats and a many farm dogs (an experience from farm
life) and even a b&w stripped version found in early childhood on the
farm.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Omaha and a past
member of the First Presbyterian Church in Plattsmouth and the First
Congregational Church in Ashland.
Survived by her sons, Stephen Miller of Omaha and Thomas Miller of
Omaha; many other family members and friends; and her last kitty she
named “Mikey”.
Visitation: 6 - 8 P.M., Marcy Chapel, Ashland, NE.
Services: 2 P.M., Tuesday, August 18, 2015, First Congregational Church,
Ashland, NE.
Interment: Ashland Cemetery, Ashland, NE.
Memorials: First Congregational Church or the Nebraska Humane Society.
Darlene worked in the 50 building, she retired 8 Nov 1991.
Marcy Mortuary
104 N 15th St
Ashland, NE 68003
402-944-3343
www.marcysvoboda.com
