Betty Miller

Visitation will be held 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Memorial Funeral Home; a service will follow at 2 p.m.

Betty was born Feb. 6, 1927, in St. Louis, to Chester and Almeta Wood. She married Owen Miller on June 3, 1950. She attended Bryan Hill Elementary School and Beaumont High School. In her youth, she was a member of North St. Louis Turners (a physical training organization). Beginning at age 6, she and her sister, Dolores, enjoyed competing in gymnastics, volleyball, swimming and track. At 16, Turners volleyball team won second place at the National Turners meet. She met her sweetheart, Owen, at Turners.

Betty was a very active, generous and dedicated wife, mother and person. In St. Louis, she was active in the Normandy Presbyterian church choir and performance play group while raising three young children. She served as Boy Scout den mother, Brownie/Girl Scout leader, room mother and Sunday school teacher. The family moved to Columbia in 1964 for Owen to teach at the university. Betty was an active member of Engineering Wives and Fortnightly Club. She was an excellent bridge player, seamstress and singer. Throughout her life, she enjoyed singing in her church choirs. She continued that well into her 70s at Missouri United Methodist Church.

She spent much time volunteering as a board member of Columbia Swim Club and as stroke judge and timer while their children competed in AAU swim meets. Other volunteering included Red Cross blood drives, Gray Lady, FISH (community emergency help group) and Show-Me Senior Games.

Betty was always an excellent student and graduated high school early at age 16. She initially worked as secretary to the registrar at Washington University School of Medicine 1943-1950 while taking evening classes at St. Louis University. When her youngest finished high school, she attended school at Columbia Public School of Practical Nursing, LPN, 1975-1976, then Lincoln University, RN associate degree, 1978-1980. She worked in the neuro step-down unit at University Hospital, 1976-1978. From 1980-1995, she worked as the clinical instructor for the Columbia Public School of Practical Nursing.

Survivors include her sister Dolores Brislane; son Keith (Kathy) Miller of Columbia; daughters Nancy (Brent) Miller-Sewell of Kansas City and Barb Onofrio of Columbia; grandchildren A.J., Jackson, Katy Miller, Sarah (Ben) Marks, Will (Miranda) Harrison, Jennifer, Josh (Colleen) and Zach Sewell and Alex Onofrio (Jennifer); and four great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Owen; and son-in-law Mike Onofrio.

Betty was a kind, giving and loving person who will be missed by many.