Elaine Norma Miller

Funeral services for Elaine Miller age 93 of Orchard will be held Tuesday, Feb. 3rd at 2:30 at the United Methodist Church in Orchard. Burial will be in the Orchard Hill Cemetery in Orchard. Visitation for Elaine Miller will be from 5-8 PM. Monday at the Ashburn Funeral Home in Orchard. Elaine passed away Friday, January 30, 2015 at the Plainview Manor.

Norma “Elaine” Miller was born in O’Neill, NE on April 1, 1921 the daughter of Ernest and Ruth (Dornbaugh) West. They lived on a farm east of Page until she was 5 years of age. They moved to Plainview, NE and attended Kindergarten through ½ of her 2nd grade year. Due to the depression, Elaine’s dad had to work on a road crew building roads in Kansas. She attended schools in Garden City and Dayton, Kansas before moving to Tecumseh, Nebraska where she attended a country school where her mother had attended. When Elaine was in 6th grade, they moved back to Orchard, Nebraska where she attended school and graduated in 1939.
Elaine attended York College, receiving a certificate of teaching. She taught in Brunswick for a few years. Elaine continued her education through the years with classes from the University of Denver, Wayne State College, University of Omaha, and Fremont Midland College.
Elaine married Glenn (Bud) Miller of Brunswick, NE on May 25th, 1946 after his discharge from the Navy. They resided in Orchard. She taught school in Orchard for five years before starting a family of three daughters, Sherry, Kathy, Vicky, and Larry.
Elaine returned to teaching in 1969, first in Ewing and then in Orchard. She taught and worked to complete her BA in Education from Yankton College, Yankton, South Dakota in 1971. Elaine taught school in Orchard until her retirement in 1987.
Her husband, Glenn (Bud) Miller passed away on July 19, 1979. Elaine loved travel and took many excursions across the US and overseas with friends and family. She took refuge in her river house, “Elaine’s Place,” and loved when all of the family could gather over the 4th of July. She never missed a birthday of her immediate family, grandchildren or great-grandchildren, and many friends, near and far. She loved sending her “Newsie” Christmas letter and receiving many cards in return.

Elaine gave piano lessons to many children through the years. Elaine was choir director for the United Methodist Church. She taught Bible School. Elaine enjoyed being a part of the Pairs and Spares and The Florence Welk Band. She was on several boards in the community. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, American Legion Auxiliary, Orchard Historical Society, Orchard Library, and Nebraska Teacher Association.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn and her parents,Ernest and Ruth West. She is survived by her children Sherry Dostal of Gretna, Nebraska;
Kathy(Kevin)Williamson of LosAngeles, Ca; Vicky(Dana)Bartak of Plainview, NE and Larry(Teresa)Miller of Brunswick, NE. Elaine loved and enjoyed her 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.