Jan. 20, 1923 - Dec. 25, 2012

NAPPANEE — Leona Milller, 89, of Nappanee, died at 11:12 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012, at LuAnn Nursing Home after a short illness. She had been at the nursing home for three years.

She was born Jan. 20, 1923, in Kosciusko County to David J. and Barbara (Hochstetler) Miller. She had lived her lifetime in the area. She married Harvey Miller on Nov. 8, 1942, in Marshall County.

He survives along with children Etta Fern (Wayne) Risser of Elkhart, Rosa Elaine Newbry of Goshen, Viola Miller of Nappanee, Wayne Alan (Brenda) Miller of Elkhart, Larry Lee (Cyndy) Miller of Elkhart, Lanadell (Carl) Helmuth of Adair, Okla., Joyce Evans of Nappanee, Sherri Lynne (Merle) Alderman of Nappanee and Rhonda Ann (Jim) Bellman of Nappanee; 28 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; brothers Sylvanus (Mary) Miller of Nappanee, Lester (Alary Esther) Miller of Middlebury and Homer (Freda) Miller of Nappanee; sisters Linda Mae Miller, Clara (Lamar) Hershberger and Verba (Lonnie) Slabaugh, all of Nappanee; sisters-in-law Norma Miller of Nappanee, Etta Ferne (Dan) Miller-Gingerich of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Rosa Miller of Nappanee; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant son Merlin Ray Miller; brothers Gilbert Miller and David Miller Jr.; brother and sister-in-law Harley and Mary Miller; sister Lovina Miller; and son-in-law Jim Evans.

Leona was a homemaker and she cooked at LuAnn Nursing Home for nine years. She also worked at Wayside Restaurant in Nappanee. She was a member of North Main Street Mennonite Church in Nappanee, and quilted at Elder Haus for many years. She loved her family very much.

Friends may visit the family from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at Thompson-Lengacher and Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, and for an hour prior to the 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, funeral service at North Main Street Mennonite Church in Nappanee. Her son-in-law, Carl Helmuth, and the Rev. Ruben Chupp of North Main Street Mennonite Church will officiate. Burial will follow in South Union Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to Elder Haus or North Main Street Mennonite Church. Online condolences may be shared at www.tlyfh.com.

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