Esther R. (Collins) Miller

Esther R. (Collins) Miller, 94 years of age, of Beatrice, passed away Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Tabitha Care Center in Lincoln. She was born on March 29, 1923 in Belden to Gustave W. and Ruth (Jonsson) Collins. Esther spent her early childhood in Cedar, Dakota and Dixon Counties and graduated from Laurel-Concord High School. She attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. Esther married Rev. Alfred Miller in Wichita, Kansas on August 16, 1942. They traveled and lived in Kansas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Washington states while her husband was in military. Alfred pastored churches in Kentucky, Kansas and Nebraska serving churches in the Kansas East and West and Nebraska Northeast and Southeast Districts. Esther moved with her family to Beatrice in 1963. She worked in state and federal offices and as a social worker for Gage County and Beatrice State Developmental Center in Fiscal Reimbursement. Esther served as president of Beatrice Federated Women’s Club (FWC), served in all offices of FWC, District IV President of Nebraska Federated Women’s Clubs in all offices but one, appointed Parliamentarian of state organization (FWC), was presently a Member At Large of FWC, past member of Lincoln Art Guild, BPO Does President and Grand Lodge #10. She was foremost an artist and produced well over 100 oil paintings. Also, she loved sewing, quilting, and crafts.  Esther created over 100 children’s quilts for Operation Smile (overseas) children and many for family and friends. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Asbury Epworth Circle and a member of American Legion Auxiliary. Esther and her husband adopted four children, cared for two foster children and supported eight children on a mission in Arizona for 10 years.

Esther is survived by three daughters, Luana McPherson of Longview, Washington, Linda Engel and husband Timothy of Nebraska City, Lisa Courtney and husband Michael of Bedford, Indiana; nine grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and 21 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gustave and Ruth Collins; husband, Alfred Miller; son, Lowell Miller; sisters, Alice Erickson and May Burchette; and brothers, Raymond and Lenard Collins.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM Thursday, September 14, 2017 at Centenary United Methodist Church in Beatrice with Pastor Mark Schutt officiating. Private interment will be at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Wichita, Kansas. Visitation will be held from noon to 9 PM with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 PM Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice. Memorials are suggested to the Centenary United Methodist Church or Operation Smile in care of the mortuary. Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice in charge of arrangements. 

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