Miller, Alfred R. (1879-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Sep 11 p. 6

Birth date: 1879 Jan 22

text of obituary:

. . .

— Alfred R. Miller, 79, who moved here from California about 13 years ago, died Saturday at the Meadowlark Homestead where he had resided for a year and a half. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at Draper's funeral Home, with Rev. Russell Mast of the Bethel College Church officiating. The body was sent to Ocean Park, Calif. for final services and burial. Dr. and Mrs. Ed. G. Kaufman went to California to attend the services, Mrs. Kaufman being a sister of Mr. Miller. Also surviving are another sister, Mrs. Mina Ewy of Abilene, and a brother, Ed. D. of Hanston.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Sep 18 p. 8

text of obituary:

ALFRED R. MILLER

Alfred R. Miller, son of the late Rev. John P. and Magdalena (Hubin) Miller, was born Jan. 22, 1879, in Neuhof, Galacia, Austria.

As a small child he came t5o this country with his parents when they settled in western Kansas at Hanston. There he shared in the hard and vigorous life of the pioneers until he was 15 years of age. At that time he found employment at Halstead, Kansas. There he was baptized Sept. 9, 1894 by Elder Christian Krehbiel, and became a member of the Halstead Mennonite congregation.

In working for some of the Mennonite farmers in the Halstead vicinity he saved enough money to buy a team and wagon which he employed to haul freight from the depot. A few years later he worked for the Santa Fe railroad at Newton, Kansas, soon serving in the capacity of purchasing agent for the Santa Fe dining car from Denver to Fort Worth, Texas. After a few years he became the purchasing agent for the Fred Harvey House in Denver, later serving in a similar capacity for the Union Pacific railroad in Seattle, Wash.

In 1910 he settled in California where he was engaged in the restaurant business in the Los Angeles vicinity almost continuously until 1945.

He was married to Mabel Grace Mannering in November 1917, in Los Angeles. Mabel departed this life Dec. 16, 1945. Soon after his wife's death he returned to Kansas and made his home with his sister, Mrs. Ed. G. Kaufman of North Newton, Kansas, until he entered the Bethel Home for the Aged in October 1956. In March 1957 he transferred to the Meadowlark Homestead where he lived until his death Sept. 6, 1958, at the age of 79 years, seven months and 15 days.

He leaves an aged sister, Mrs. Mina Ewy of Abilene, Kansas, one brother Ed. D. Miller of Hanston, Kansas, and a sister Anna, Mrs. Ed. G. Kaufman of North Newton, Kansas, and a number of nephews and nieces.

Since he grew up during the early pioneer days of western Kansas, his formal education of necessity was meager, but he remained an avid reader as long as health and eyesight permitted and was well informed on many subjects. He was an interesting conversationalist and found great pleasure in relating incidents of his varied and rich experience to his family and friends.

He was kind and generous in disposition, always ready to help those in need. Although he had no children of his own, he bound great delight in the company of children and these in turn eagerly responded to his ministrations. He was a lover of nature. Flowers and birds were his hobby. Those who learned to know him on the Bethel College campus will remember his concern for every stray dog or other creature that needed protection.

In 1946 he transferred his church membership to the Bethel College Mennonite church. He loved Jesus Christ and his Church and was a loyal and faithful member until his death. His body, accompanied by Ed. G. and Mrs. Kaufman, was taken to California to be interred in Inglewood Park cemetery by the side of that of his wife.