119 Third Street Southwest ~ Rugby, North Dakota ~ 58368-1797
Chapel of the Cross ~ Towner, North Dakota
Jon M. Stork - President / Licensed Director
Phone: 701.776.6381 ~ 701.537.5130
Fax: 701.776.5916
email: afhrugbytowner@gondtc.com
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Magdalena Ann "Maggie" Miller
Magdalena Ann “Maggie” Miller, the daughter of Michael and Katherine (Schumacher) Miller was born in the home of her parents in Knox, North Dakota on August 23, 1916. She died at the age of 96 years on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at the Heart of America Care Center in Rugby, North Dakota, where she had resided the past two years. Maggie grew up, in what would turn out to be her lifetime home, the home of her parents in Knox and graduated from High School there. Following high school, besides helping her parents with the family farm, she worked at various businesses including Dokken’s Grocery, Dry goods & Notions, the Ohs Filling Station, the Gamble Agency, Bridgeman Russell’s Cream Buying, painted homes, was the town’s hairdresser, and Scott’s Dime Store in Devils Lake. In 1938, she took employment with the U.S. Postal Service in Knox, serving as postal clerk and acting postmaster, which ever was needed for the next 66 years, retiring in 2004. Not willing to retire completely, she worked as needed at the Knox post office. Maggie was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she served many years as the council’s secretary/ treasurer and was a long time choir member. She also embraced membership in the Catholic Daughters – Rugby Court, the Catholic Order of Foresters, St. Mary’s Altar Guild, Knox VFW Auxiliary and the Knox 55 Club. Maggie was a gracious hostess to many and enjoyed quilting, canning, cooking, baking, gardening, bowling, golfing, and playing bingo and cards. Her calling card to the table for her nieces and nephews was her homemade chicken noodle soup . . . a taste that will be long remembered. Survivors include many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. Maggie was preceded in death by her parents; 6 sisters, Juliana Miller, Anna Klein, Katherine Gaffrey, Wilhelmina Unser, Rosena “Rosie” Norby and Eva Voeller; 8 brothers, Michael, Lambert, Matthias, Longenius, Dionysius “Dean”, Sylvester, Eustachius “Gus”, and Adam.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 21nd at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Knox with burial in the church cemetery. Fr. Tom Graner, Celebrant Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby followed by a rosary and vigil prayers at 7 p.m... Reviewal will be held for one hour prior to the time of services at the church on Tuesday. |
Posted Condolences:
Maggie was an energetic, caring woman who made everyone feel at home. I can't imagine the parish or the community without her. My deepest sympathy to the family.
Mark J Halvorson
I take comfort in the fact that the Miller brothers and sisters will be united together once again. Rest in peace Aunt Maggie, and please tell grandma I love and miss her!
Kimberly Fitzpatrick (Gaffrey)
Maggie's Family, My Sister & Brother-in-Law loved Maggie to pieces. Them being Bob & Brenda Mitzel! They thought the world of this precious lady. We had the pleasure of meeting her at Bob & Brenda's for a Holiday Dinner-can't remember the holiday but I do remember that go-getter Maggie-she was a and always will remain in the hearts of many. Our deepest sympathy to all of you at this saddened time but cherish the many wonderful years Maggie shared with all of you. Don & Michelle Murray from Cavalier.
Aunt Maggie and Knox, ND will always be symbolic of the home and history of the Miller family. Though she had no children of her own, she had a very large family consisting of many nieces and nephews who loved her. She enjoyed our phone calls and would always send Christmas cards along with a letter informing us of the happenings in and around Knox and Rugby; and telling of her bowling and golfing experiences. She was the last of her generation of the Miller family and will be missed by all of us knew and loved her.
Patrick & Patricia Gaffrey
Well...Auntie Maggie...You will certainly NEVER be forgotten. I will always remember you as Mer and Rosie's Right Hand Gal, always on the go, always on the ball, a ball of fire, full of fun, and always an inspiration. I bet you are having a blast...visiting and checking out all the entertainment, dancing with Lawrence Welk...and I'm sure if they don't have a bowling league...you'll get one going! So many here have wanted so much to hear from their loved ones who have passed on...to let them know they are okay now. I expect that if anyone can start a mail service between here and there...you're the woman to do it! I feel blessed to have had you in my life. Tell Uncle Mer and Aunt Rosie hello...have a piece of Helen Olson's lefse for me....and say hi to my mom and dad! You will be missed, Maggie Miller! I'm posting this article again...because it makes me smile each time I read it!
Barbara Bue
[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)] [Senate] [Pages S4930-S4931]
CONGRATULATIONS TO MAGGIE MILLER
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I would like to let my colleagues know about a woman who, this morning, is working at the post office in Knox, ND. Knox, ND, is a little town of 42 people, but it is big enough to have a post office.
Just recently, the postmaster of the Knox, ND, post office, a woman named Vivian Seter, retired. Upon Vivian's retirement at age 73, Maggie Miller took over the job.
Now maybe my colleagues are thinking there is nothing unusual in that. But Maggie is 83 years old, and she just took over the running of the post office in Knox from her 73-year-old friend Vivian.
The post office has cut its hours a bit since Maggie took over, so it is open now from 8:30 until 10:30 a.m. In fact, in about 10 minutes from now, central time in Knox, ND, Maggie will be hanging it up for the day. But for now, at age 83, after working 62 years in the postal system, Maggie has assumed the reins of the Knox Post Office.
The reason I mention this today is that I have talked a lot over the years about rural values. There is something quite remarkable and unique about life in the small towns of rural America. I represent a wonderful State, North Dakota, with a lot of small communities. Knox, ND, is one of them.
There are also a lot of hard-working, remarkable people in these small towns, and Maggie Miller is one of them. Again, she has been working for the postal system for 62 years, and I read in the newspaper that the postmaster from Rolla, ND, had to come train her for her new position. Vivian, the retiring postmaster, joked:
She has only been doing this 62 years, so she needs a little training.
The article I read about her said that last year Maggie, who was age
82 at the time, bowled a 204. Then she broke her wrist and has had to take the summer off. But Maggie being Maggie, she vows to make a comeback to her bowling league.
When I saw this story in the paper, I just had to call Maggie. When she answered the phone, I said: Maggie, this is Byron Dorgan calling from Washington, DC. I wanted to tell you that it is wonderful that you are stepping in as postmaster at age 83. Maggie said: Tell me another one. I said: No, Maggie, it really is Byron Dorgan. And she said: I bet it is.
So Maggie, if you happen to be watching this debate in Congress, I really did call you. I say congratulations. You have a lot of spunk. I am proud of all the things you have done and of the values that you represent of folks in small towns helping each other and working together. I know the post office in many small towns is the hub of the community, and I am confident you will serve Knox well.
Congratulations to Maggie and to the town of Knox.
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