Theodora D. (Johnson) Miller

Theodora D. Miller, age 100, of Glenwood, MN, and formerly of Clarkfield, MN, died Sunday, May 23, 2021, at Glenwood Retirement Village. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, May 28th, at Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home, with Pastor Brenda Boogren and Jo Ann Graf officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at 2:30 P.M. in St. Lucas Lutheran Cemetery, Clarkfield. Arrangement are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Theodora Delight Johnson was born February 21, 1921 to Herbert and Emma (Trandahl) Johnson at their farm in Normania Township in Yellow Medicine County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Lucas Lutheran Church of rural Clarkfield where she was a lifelong member. She taught Sunday School and was a member of the ELCW.

Theodora grew up on the family farm with her two sisters. She attended country school for eight years before completing her education at Clarkfield High School, graduating in 1939. One of her favorite memories from that time was the day there were too many children on the school bus so the driver asked if she could drive the remainder of the children to school in a car.  She was flattered since she was only a freshman and was not licensed. Following graduation, Theodora worked as a nanny for Dr. and Mrs. Schmidt in Granite Falls. She also worked in restaurants in Clarkfield and Cottonwood.

Theodora was united in marriage to Wendell Miller on July 14, 1940 by Rev H.J. Madland at the parsonage in Cottonwood. The couple farmed and raised their three children on the Elbow Farm south of Clarkfield. Wendell retired in 1978 and the two moved to Clarkfield where they purchased a home in a wonderful neighborhood where they made many good friends. Wendell passed away in 1993 and Theodora remained in Clarkfield until moving to Glenwood and the Senior Independent housing facility, Ridgewood Villa, where she resided for almost 15 years before becoming a resident at Glenwood Retirement Village in her 99th year.

Glenwood was familiar to Theodora as years before she and Wendell had a mobile home on nearby Lake Mary, which they eventually sold to purchase a cabin at Berens Point on Lake Minnewaska. Many happy memories were made with their family at the cabin. She and Wendell also took various trips over the years, enjoying visits to Hawaii, Arizona, and many US major cities.

Theodora was blessed with the ability to make friends easily. She enjoyed visiting and was very social. She had a good sense of humor and a great smile. Her love of reading and keeping up with the latest news, politics, and sports made it easy for her to engage in conversation with just about anyone. She was an avid fan of the Twins and Vikings which meant that she could also talk sports. Theodora liked everyone and everyone liked her.

Theodora passed away on Sunday, May 23, 2021, at Glenwood Retirement Village, at the age of 100 years. Her family would like to thank the staff at Ridgewood Villa and Glenwood Retirement Village for the wonderful care she received while a resident. May her memory be blessed.

Survivors include her three children, Ann (Larry) Stensrud of Glenwood, Maurice Miller of Danbury, WI, and Donald Miller of Glenwood; three grandchildren, Kyle (Jodie) Stensrud of Florence, MT, Kirk (Carli) Stensrud of Glenwood, and Kristin Miller Prestegaard of St. Paul; ten great-grandchildren, Ethan and Emma Stensrud, Ellen and Esten Stensrud, Owen, Henry, and Jack Prestegaard, and Sierra, Jace and Mya Lindemann; daughter-in-law, Betsy Miller, as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Preceding Theodora in death were her parents, Herbert and Emma Johnson; her husband Wendell; and her two sisters, Lucyle Varpness and Virginia Hoff.

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