Leonora Miller, 91

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 13, 2010

Funeral services for Leonora Irene Miller, 91, of Austin will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. The Rev. William Bankester will officiate. Interment will be at the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
Leonora died Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at Sacred Heart Nursing Home in Austin.
Leonora Irene Miller was born on June 5, 1918, in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, the daughter of Reint and Mary (Eckhoff) Karsjens. The family moved to the Hollandale area in 1926. Leonora attended Bell School District 27. On Aug. 1, 1939, she was united in marriage to Ben Miller at his home in Hollandale. Leonora worked for many years at Naeve Hospital as a dietician. She was a member of the Conservative Congregational Church in Hollandale where she taught Sunday school and Bible school, and was a member of the ladies aid. Leonora also enjoyed being actively involved with the Gideons. 
Survivors include her children: Twyla Adams of Phoenix, Ariz., and Cynthia (Gary) Zech of Austin; stepchildren: Bernice Thompson of Austin and Curt (Alice) Miller of Denver, Colo.; grandchildren: Lisa Adams of Chandler, Ariz., Shelli Adams of Belmont, Ohio, Susan Adams of Belmont, Ohio, and James Zech of Minneapolis; several stepgrandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; brothers: Edward (Elsie) Karsjens of Hillman, Walter (Eva) Karsjens of Hollandale, Dwight (Delores) Karsjens and Delbert (Judy) Karsjens, both of Clarks Grove; sisters: Eleanor (Doede) Harms of Blooming Prairie, Inez (Henry) Waalkens of Albert Lea and Lauretta (William) Barnett of Austin; and many nieces and nephews.
Leonora was preceded in death by parents; husband, Ben, in 1968; brother, Orval Karsjens, in 1975; and sister, Matilda Waalkens, in 1985.