Miller, Berta Irene Selzer (1921-2019)

Mennonite World Review obituary: 2019 Aug 19 p. 15

Birth date: 1921 Jan 29

Text of obituary:

Berta Selzer Miller

Berta Irene Selzer Miller, 98, of Hesston, Kan., died June 29, 2019, at Showalter Villa. She was born Jan. 29, 1921, to Alvin and Nora Selzer on a farm south of Protection.

Her father donated the land for the frame church and the cemetery to the new Mennonite settlement in Protection. She was baptized at the church on June 4, 1931.

An avid learner, she was the first in her family to go to high school, attending Hesston Academy.

On Dec. 28, 1941, she married Sanford Miller at the Selzer home.

During World War II, Sanford served in Civilian Public Service at Fort Collins, Colo., Clearsprings, Md., and Murdock, Neb., and she was able to be with him. After the war, they moved back to the farm.

He milked cows and raised cattle, wheat and cattle feed. She raised chickens, sold eggs and canned produce. They moved to Hesston and North Newton so that Sanford could complete his college degree. They moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he was pastor in a Mennonite church and he completed his master's degree in social work. They then settled in Topeka.

She graduated from Washburn University in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in education. She taught at Rice Elementary School in USD 501, where she was a reading specialist. She completed her master's degree in 1969 at Emporia State Teacher's College. She then taught at Boy's Industrial School and Seaman USD 345, where she taught students with learning disabilities.

A member of Bethel College Mennonite Church, she volunteered at Kauffman Museum and the Dyck Arboretum gift shop. She was blessed with artistic talents.

Survivors include four children, Stanley E. (Marianne) Miller of North Newton, Barbara M. (Larry) Callahan of Topeka, Rebecca L. (Michael) Frederick of Sandia, Texas, and Stephen D. (Shawn) of Protection; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Sanford; nine siblings, Florence Schultz, Glen, Truman, Lester, Roy, Opal Bontrager, Ernest, Nellie Schultz and Mary Ann Miller; and a great-grandson.