Miller, Sarah Stutsman (1874-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Jan 2 p. 7

Birth date: 1874 Oct 26

text of obituary:

Mother of Two College Professors Dies

Goshen, Ind. — Mrs. Sarah Stutsman Miller, 89, a native of Johnson County, Iowa, died here Dec.26 after a lingering illness of nearly eight years.

Born Oct. 26, 1874, at Sharon Center near Iowa City, Iowa, she was married to Lewis J. Miller in 1895. They moved here 10 years ago from Wellman, Iowa and he died in 1949. During her illness she suffered a number of strokes, and the past year was cared for at the Moore Nursing Home here.

She is survived by three children, Dr. Glenn R. Miller, professor of chemistry at Goshen College, Dr. L. Wallace Miller of the Teachers College at Chico, Calif., and Mrs. Jacob (Erma) Erb of Goshen; eight grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; on sister, Mrs. Sanford C. (Emma) Yoder of Goshen; one brother, Dr. E. E. Stutsman of Washington, Iowa; and a niece, Mrs. Orval (Vivian) Troyer of Hesston, Kan., who grew up in the Miller home after being orphaned at the age of four.

A short service was held at the Yoder Funeral Home here on Dec. 28 in charge of John Mosemann and Sanford C. Yoder, based on Psalm 23. The body was then taken to Iowa for final services and burial at the Lower Deer Creek Church and cemetery near Kalona on Dec. 30, with bishop John Y. Swartzendruber in charge.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Jan 23 p. 8

text of obituary:

A Tribute to Our Mother

By Erma Miller Erb

(Mrs. Erb, the Review correspondent at Goshen, Ind., submitted this fitting tribute to her mother, who died Dec. 26 at the age of 89.)

SARAH STUTSMAN MILLER

Our mother, Sarah Stutsman Miller, died Dec. 26, 1963, at Goshen, Ind. at the age of 89, leaving three children, Dr. Glen R. Miller of Goshen College, Dr. L. Wallace Miller of Teachers College at Chico, Calif., and Emma (Mrs. Jacob L. Erb) of Goshen; an orphaned niece, Vivian (Mrs. Orval) Troyer of Hesston, Kan. who lived in their home since four years old as a daughter; one sister Emma (Mrs. Sanford C. Yoder) of :grandchildren. Her husband, Lewis J. Miller, passed away in 1949.

A short service was held at the Yoder Funeral Home in Goshen on Dec. 28, in charge of Bishop John Mosemann and her brother-in-law, Bishop Sanford C. Yoder. This service was based on her favorite Psalm (Psa. 23).

The body was then taken to Kalona, Iowa, where services were conducted Dec. 30 at her home church. The Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church, with Bishop John Y. Swartzendruber in charge. Interment was made in the Lower Deer Creek cemetery by the side of her husband.

At the service in Iowa, Minister Robert K. Yoder read “A Little Parable For Mothers” by Temple Bailey as a fitting tribute to our mother. After telling how the Mother had imparted to her children courage, fortitude in the face of hardness, and faith in God, the parable closes with these words:

“And the mother said, 'I have reached the end of my journey, and now I know that the end is better than the beginning for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.'

“And the children said, 'You will always walk with us, mother, even when you have gone through the gates.'

“And they stood and watched her as she went on alone and the gates closed.

“And they said: 'A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence.'”