Elinor (Mrs. Emil) Miller

Elinor (Mrs. Emil) Miller, age 95, of Decorah, IA, died Friday, December 16, 2011 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah following a 15 year battle with Parkinson’s disease. Memorial Services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Thursday, December 22, 2011 at Aase Haugen Home Chapel with Rev. Marion Pruitt-Jefferson officiating. Private Family Inurnment will be in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah in the spring. Elinor Christine (Langum) Miller was born June 11, 1916 in Preston, Minnesota the daughter of Alfred and Hazel (Morgan) Langum. She graduated from high school in Preston and then attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she graduated with a teaching degree. She then began teaching Music and English at Northfield High School. Elinor was united in marriage to Emil Carl Miller on August 16, 1940 at her family’s home in Preston. They were blessed with one daughter, Diane. He was serving in the U.S. Navy at the time. Elinor and Emil lived in Iowa City while Emil was getting his Master’s Degree and Ph.D. at the University of Iowa. They moved to Decorah when he was appointed a Luther College Physics professor. Elinor had a great love for music and teaching. She taught piano lessons for sixty years and played the piano for the Farm Bureau Women’s Chorus for many years. She was a very active member of First Lutheran Church and was very involved in many church activities, including circle. Elinor was a member of Luther College Women’s Club, Garden Club and Meals on Wheels. She liked to golf and belonged to Oneota Golf and Country Club. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband Emil on March 29, 1996. Elinor is survived by her daughter, Diane Boyd of Caledonia, MN; two grandchildren: Angela Wolter of Brownsville, MN and Brad Steine of Lowell, AR; and four great- grandchildren: Katelyn Marie, Mackenzie Christine, Allyson Ann and Hunter James Wolter, all of Brownsville, MN.