Beverly (Bev) Irene Rehnblom Miller, beloved wife, mother, family member, neighbor and friend to many, died February 6, 2019 at the age of 94 after a prolonged period of declining health. She passed from this life into heavenly eternal life to join her husband Dick, parents, and many others who went before.
Beverly came from rather humble beginnings. She was born in the family farmhouse just west of Stanhope, Iowa on Oct 12, 1924. She was descended from Swedish immigrants who came to the United States in the 1800’s. Her father, Phillip Rehnblom, a World War I veteran, and her mother Olga were farmers. The family farm did not have electricity or running water in 1924, and all the work was done by hand with the help of work horses. Beverly and brother Wendell and sister Lyla were part of a close-knit family and community. The grew up during the difficult years of the Great Depression, but always had food and basic necessities and were deeply loved by their parents and family.
Beverly attended the Stanhope public school where she was an excellent student and was active in sports and music activities. After graduation from high school she attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. While at college she formed lifelong close friendships with a group of her classmates who lived in the house of Lois Grammer, music education professor, while the dorms were needed for Army Air Corps cadets. The “Grammer Girls” remained in touch with each other through the years.
In college, Bev was an excellent student and upon graduation in 1946, moved to Fairmont Minnesota to teach English at the high school. She met her future husband, Richard (Dick) Miller. They were married in 1947 and soon after began their family. Daughter Lynne was born in 1948, followed by son Richard in 1951, daughter Jayne in 1952, and son Scott in 1955.
After their marriage Bev and Dick moved to the Rehnblom family farm in Iowa. From 1948 to 1950 they worked the farm. When the Korean War broke out Dick, a World War II veteran, was called back to active duty in 1951. From that time until Dick’s retirement in 1976 they moved and relocated a number of times as part of their military life. The family lived in Great Falls, Montana; Vacaville, California; Blaine, Washington; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, and Levittown, New Jersey. In 1964 Dick was assigned to Ent AFB in Colorado Springs. From that point the family made their home in Colorado.
A highlight of the family’s late military years came in 1970 when Dick was assigned to work at the joint American Australian radar station in Woomera, South Australia. Bev and the family had a chance to live in a small outback town, an experience that was enjoyed by all.
Upon Dick’s retirement from the Air Force in 1976 Bev was able to spend more time with her husband and pursue mutual interests including visiting/helping aging parents and relatives, travelling to places of interest including the Rehnblom and Murray ancestral homes in Sweden and Scotland, and improvement projects on their home and property in Colorado Springs.
Throughout her life Bev had many interests and involvements, but her greatest passion was her family. She devoted her adult life to being a great wife to her husband and great mother to her children. She loved people and social activities and belonged to a number of clubs and organizations. She was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church including First Lutheran in Colorado Springs for 45 years. Bev was active in the Church Choir, Ladies Circles, Sunrise Hikers, and volunteered at the Marion House Soup Kitchen. She and Dick were able to travel around the U.S. as well as making several trips to Australia and Europe with their friends the Measdays, Axtells, and Fox’s.
Bev always loved children and was thrilled when eventually her three grandchildren, Andrew, Charlotte, and Ricky, came into her life. She truly believed in hospitality. Friends and relatives were always welcome in the Miller home. Air Force Academy Cadet Matt Simmons spent much time with Bev and Dick. Matt and his wife Cathy with their children Jeffrey and Alyssa were very special friends.
Bev and Dick remained busy and involved with church, family, friends, and community throughout their lives. Well into their 80’s they continued a busy schedule of activities. Eventually age and medical problems began to slow her down, but Bev continued to do as much as she could and still loved to travel and spend time with family and friends. In recent years she became more of a caregiver to husband Dick as his health declined while she also developed many of the ailments of aging. In 2016 Bev and Dick moved into Sunridge retirement home, where they met new friends and enjoyed the company of Lyle and Nita Thompson, friends from their Australia days.
Bev’s loving husband Dick died in August 2018 at a time when she was experiencing worsening health problems herself. Despite excellent medical care and assistance from family and care givers, she continued to decline until her peaceful death at home.
Bev had a wonderful and interesting life. She loved life and accomplished many things. Her greatest asset was the kind of person she was and the values she lived by. She put tremendous importance on virtues such as faith, hard work, education, family, citizenship, and friendship. She instilled those values in her children and countless others that she touched through her kindness and thoughtfulness. She will live on in the lives of those who knew her.
Bev is survived by her brother Wendell, sisters-in-law Grace and Jean, her four children and their families Lynne and Jerry; Rick, Shiela, and Ricky; Jayne, Andrew and Beth, Charlotte and Dominic; Scott and Rhonda; nine nieces and nephews and many extended family members.
A Celebration of Life will be held March 12, 2019 at 1:30 PM at First Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs. Donations in her memory may be made to First Lutheran Church, 1515 North Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80907.
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