In Memory of Lydia D.L. Miller

Lydia D. Miller, age 93, of Ida Grove, Iowa passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at the Morningside Healthcare Community of Ida Grove, Iowa.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Reverend Richard A. Salcido will officiate. Committal Services will be held in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Memorial Service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com 

Lydia was born on October 14, 1922, to Louis and Caroline (Ehler) Jensen near Ida Grove, Iowa. Lydia grew up and attended country school first through eighth grade at Blaine #4 in Ida County. She also attended some high school.

She married Clifford Miller on January 3, 1940 at the Lutheran Church parsonage in Ida Grove. They shared 56 years of marriage before his passing on October 4, 1996. To this union eight children were born: Dorothy, Floyd, Pat, Dennis, Angela, Bruce, Valerie and Julianna. Lydia spent most of her years as a mother and wife and companion to Clifford. They were seldom seen apart, from the years spent farming together and after they moved into Ida Grove, where they started a drey and transfer business. Lydia and Clifford worked together doing janitor work at the church for many years. Lydia also worked at the old Ida Grove Hospital and when the Horn Memorial Hospital was built she spent a short time working there. She also worked at Morningside Manor in Ida Grove for several years.

Lydia was a lifelong member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. She was active in Dorcas Society and Ladies Aid.

She is survived by seven children, Dorothy Kuehnhold of Storm Lake, IA, Pat (Gerald) Schmidt of Anthem, AZ, Dennis (Malene) Miller of Lompoc, CA, Angela (Dennis) Goodman of Arthur, IA, Reverend Bruce (Karen) Miller of Mason City, IA, Valerie (Bruce) Boggess of Centennial, CO, Julianna (Brian) Mefferd of Ida Grove, IA; daughter-in-law, Jaron Miller of Battle Creek, IA; brother, Delbert (Barbara) Jensen of Indio, CA; 24 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Miller; parents, Louis and Caroline Jensen; brothers, Albert Jensen and Robert Jensen; son, Floyd Miller; and grandson, Michael Anderson.