Miller, Bertha Fern Weaver (1916-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Dec 3 p. 12

Birth date: 1916 Aug 23

text of obituary:

BERTHA WEAVER MILLER

Bertha Fern Weaver Miller, 91, of Nampa, Idaho, died Nov. 11, 2007, at her home. She was born Aug. 23, 1916, to minister Reuben M. and Lucinda Weaver in Newton, Kan.

She grew up in Harper, Kan., and was one of 14 children. She was baptized at age 12 and became a lifelong member of the Mennonite church. She was educated in Harper schools and at Hesston Academy, where she graduated in 1937.

On Sept. 4, 1938, she married W. LaVern Miller at Jet, Okla.

They made their first home in Gate, Okla., and then moved to Ames, Iowa, where he graduated from Iowa State College Veterinary School. They moved to Nampa in 1943. There she became office assistant, helper and bookkeeper in her husband’s 50-year veterinary practice.

She was active in First Mennonite Church and City Acres Mennonite Church of Nampa as song leader, vocalist, Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school teacher and librarian. She supported Nampa Mennonite School and Nampa Christian Schools. For many years she volunteered at Nampa’s More-For-Less (later Ten Thousand Villages) shop.

Over a span of 20 years she cared for more than 70 foster children and hosted 14 homeless adults in the family home. A large percentage of the income from foster parenting, antiques and quilting was given to worldwide missions and local needy families.

Survivors include five sons, Sam Miller of Sand Hollow, Kelly Miller of Nampa, Noel Miller of Boise, Craig Miller of Nampa and Tim Miller of Parma; four daughters, Dawn Pichette of Harbor City, Calif., Celia Quignon of Nampa, Miriam Hess of Union, Ore., and Melody Landis of Mountain Home; six siblings, Ella May Miller of Harrisonburg, Va., Alta Fry of Elk Falls, Kan., Mary Shue of Harper, Kan., Wanda Good of Harrisonburg, Va., Anna Ruth Beck of Hesston, Kan., and Dale Weaver of Cripple Creek, Colo.; 19 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, W. LaVern Miller; two sons, Loman and Neil; and nine siblings.