Mona Lareen Miller, age 93, of Grand Island, passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
Service and celebration of Mona's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21st, at All Faiths Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
There is a visitation prior to the service from 10-11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.
Mona was born August 21, 1930, in rural Chase County, NE, the daughter of Joseph and Zella (Harris) Bailey. She was born in the home where her maternal grandparents had homesteaded. Mona attended grade school in the Blanche one-room schoolhouse. When Mona was 15, the family moved to Paxton and she graduated from Paxton High School in 1949.
Mona continued her education at business school in Denver and then returned to Paxton where she was employed at the Kildare Lumber Company.
Mona married Floyd Miller in March of 1957, and they lived on the Harvey Lawler Ranch in Arthur County. They had four children. In 1966 the family moved to Grand Island. Mona and Floyd later divorced.
Mona worked a total of 25 years for the United States Government, seven years for the Army and then 18 years at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. After retirement from the Medical Center, Mona worked for another 20 years at various full time and part time jobs in Grand Island.
Mona was a charter member of First United Methodist Church and took part in many church activities, committees, etc., and always enjoyed singing in the choir. She loved to sing, dance, play cards and spent any free moments reading. She had a passion for traveling and did so whenever possible. Mona loved all Husker sports and was a lifetime fan.
Mona is survived by daughters, Denise Larkin (Roger) of Columbia, MO, and Valerie (Jay) Galvan of Burwell; sons, Harvey (Sherri) Miller of Iowa City and Byron Miller of Dannebrog; eight grandchildren, Jennifer (Tim) Derryberry, Stephanie (CJ) Bevan, Jesse Miller (Ashley Eidbo), Grant Galvan, Schuyler Miller, Colby Miller, Casey (Sasha) Miller and Alec (Shelby) Galvan.
She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Grant Cowell, Landon Kintner and Millie, Blythe and Jerzie Galvan; brother-in-law, Harry North; sister-in-law, Frances Stevens and longtime friends, Pat and Jim Dickerson.
She was predeceased by her parents; sisters, Betty-Jo (Wesley) Van Vleet, Jennie Syfrett, Celia North and Audrey (John) Howard; brother, Bill Bailey; and infant grandson, Shane Miller.