Claire Miller

Claire P. Miller, 92, of Bloomington, Indiana died on Wednesday, July 28th at Bell Trace. She was born in Rugby, North Dakota on October 17, 1917, the daughter of George and Gail Putz. She was preceded in death by her husband Hugh Miller, daughter Mary White, brother George Putz, and sister Shirley Elsen. She is survived by her sister Gail (Stanley) Wilson and a brother, Gordon (Rose) Putz. She is survived by three of her daughters, Elizabeth (Tom) Egenberger of Iowa City, Iowa; Catherine (Peter) Haralovich of Bloomington, Indiana; and Margaret (Morton) Soule of Portland, Maine. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Jennifer (Pat) Nelson, Sara (Steve) Lewter, Nathan Broaddus (Sally Sadoff), Leah Broaddus (Jason Agne), Jessyka Hancock, Daniel Broaddus (Danielle Cohen), Matthew (Vicky) Haralovich, Benjamin Haralovich, Peter Haralovich, and Mary Soule. In addition she had 10 great-grandchildren. Growing up in Fargo, North Dakota, she was chosen Peony Queen and Representative Girl in high school and Homecoming Queen in college. She graduated from North Dakota State University with a B.S. in Foods and Nutrition. As a dietitian at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, she met and married Dr. Hugh Miller. During WWII, Hugh was in the Navy, and she spent a year teaching home economics and English in North Dakota, and then worked as a dietitian in Portland, Oregon. After WWII, Claire and Hugh settled in his home town, Elkhart, Indiana. She was a full-time homemaker for over 30 years, well-known for her homemade pies, breads and diverse meals. She sewed her daughters' dresses and enjoyed entertaining family and friends. During their time in Elkhart, Hugh was in private practice and later was a medical vice president at Miles Laboratories. Claire taught kindergarten from 1968 to 1972 at Oslo Elementary School. She was a member of Thursday Club, the First Presbyterian Church of Elkhart, Tri Kappa and P.E.O. After retirement, the Millers moved to a farm in Constantine, Michigan. They had a pond with a rope swing which was a favorite setting for their grandchildren. They also enjoyed raising and eating their own food. In 1996 she moved to Bloomington, where she enjoyed the music and sports IU had to offer. Throughout her life, she was an avid reader with interests including biographies, mysteries, the New Yorker and politics. There will be a celebration of her life at First Presbyterian Church (Bloomington) at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, July 31st.

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Claire Miller

October 17, 1917 - July 28, 2010