Bernice "Susie" Mcmillen

BERNICE LOUISE "SUSIE" MCMILLEN, one of five children of Henry William Albert and Louise Dorother (Meyer) Hillmer, was born on August 24, 1918 in Terril, Iowa. Susie grew up in Terril and graduated from Terril High School in 1936.
On November 17, 1940, Susie and Loyd Merle McMillen were married at the Lutheran parsonage in Terril. They engaged in farming near the communities of Logan and Woodbine, IA. During these years, their marriage was blessed with five children: Stanley, Larry, Lowell, Myrna, and Linda. Susie always enjoyed teaching Sunday School and participating in Vacation Bible Schools in the various Lutheran churches that they attended in Magnolia, Hastings, and Marshalltown. Susie enjoyed being a 4-H leader while her children were in 4-H.
In 1967 her husband and she moved from Malvern to Marshalltown. Children were an important part of her life. She babysat full time for many families in the area for over 30 years.
Susie enjoyed stamp collecting, crocheting, and attending the athletic events of the children whom she babysat. Loyd and she traveled to many special events of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
In 1998 Loyd and Susie returned to Malvern and resided at Malvern Village. In August 2001 she sustained fractured vertebrae from a fall. Due to deteriorating health she was placed in Manor of Malvern on October 2001 and resided there until her death at the age 85.
Susie was preceded in death by her parents: Henry and Louise; and brothers: William, Russell, and Marvin.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Loyd of Malvern; sons: Stan, wife Margot, of Guatemala; Larry, wife Carol of Merrill, IA; Lowell, wife Rose of Westminister, CA; daughters: Myrna Leu, husband Melvin of Malvern, IA; Linda Wooten, husband Harry of Sun City West, AZ; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and sister Friedareca Kathrene Pluth of Rapid City, SD; nieces, nephews and many, many friends.