Majel Miller

Majel Alice Miller, 90, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, September 8, 2009, at the Pioneer Retirement Community in Fergus Falls.  She was born May 7, 1919, in Mantador, North Dakota, the daughter of Iver and Alma (Olson) Johnson. Her family lived in many places throughout the area, and Majel enjoyed her school years in many towns, including Ashby and Elbow Lake. She graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1959, after going back to school. As secretary of the school board at that time, she signed her own high school diploma. She also took numerous classes at the Fergus Falls Community College and was an avid lifelong student of many subjects, most notably world and local politics and history. On November 14, 1937, she married Alvin B. Miller at the Pelican Lake Lutheran Church parsonage in Ashby, Minnesota. A product of the Great Depression, Majel worked from the time she was a young adolescent, helping the family in whatever way she could. With her husband and the Miller brothers, she worked with the Peter A. Miller family business, maintaining a milk delivery service door to door. From 1945 to 1949, Alvin and Majel farmed south of Fergus Falls. In 1949, they established Town and Country Dairy, a milk processing plant and dairy bar which was located on the site that is now the parking lot of Service Food on Lincoln Avenue in Fergus Falls. The dairy closed in 1965, but Majel had already begun her career as a Real Estate Broker in 1961, establishing Miller Realty. They operated Miller Realty across from the Fergus Falls Senior High until the late 1980s when Alvin’s health began to fail. Majel worked as a salesperson for Jibben Real Estate and retired from Good Earth Realty in 1995 at the age of 76. She was a “Sewing” Club member for 72 years, and a member of state and local real estate organizations, receiving the “Realtor of the Year” award in 1991. She was involved in PTA, the Lake Region Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, and the Fergus Falls School Board, and was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Majel enjoyed reading, politics, hospitality, and her professional organizations, and was always ready for an adventure. She was an historian, and business woman, and enjoyed knowing and staying in touch with generations of clients, business partners, and lifelong friends. Preceding her in death were her granddaughter, Lisha Rae Berge; her parents; her husband, Alvin B. Miller; a son-in-law, E. Clifford Frazee; her brother Vernon and wife Mabel Johnson; twin sister Margaret and husband Carl Larson; an infant sister, Grace; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Arthur and Gladys Miller, Esther Miller, and George and Helen Miller. Survivors include her children: Jacqueline (Chet) Nowak of Madison, WI, Patricia Frazee of Milbank, SD, Bradley (Diane) Miller of Prior Lake/Pequot Lakes, MN, and Brooke (Richard) Barsness of Fergus Falls; nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; her brother and sister-in-law Vernon and Irene Miller of Rochester; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends of all ages. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Radio Broadcast Ministry of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, M State’s Fergus Area College Foundation, or Pioneer Retirement Community’s Pioneering the Future capital campaign. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church. Service:  11 a.m. Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverends Paul Nelson and Kate Bruns and Chaplain Harry Olson Interment:  Oak Grove Cemetery in Fergus Falls Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com