Mildred Martha "Millie" (Kruger) Grady

Mildred Martha "Millie" (Kruger) Grady, 101, was born into a warm, loving, caring family, the third of seven children, on September 26, 1916 in the farming community of Kiester, Minnesota, located on the Minnesota-Iowa border in south central Minnesota. Millie graduated into the presence of her Lord on Friday, March 9, 2018, at Cottage in the Meadow, Yakima, WA.

Millie's memories were full of farm life experiences including preparing food for threshing crews, riding in horse drawn sleighs, caring and feeding for farm animals, and, as children, climbing the forbidden windmill tower to see the surrounding sights-an indicator of the adventuresome spirit she developed. Millie enjoyed school, including some time in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated early in 1932.

As a young woman in the early 40's, Millie exhibited her adventuresome spirit and traveled with friends to the Long Beach area in California, a favorite place carried in her heart all through life. As this was during the early WW II period, she participated in war production for a time as "Millie The Welder" when taking a job at LA Young Spring and Wire who outsourced parts to Lockheed Aircraft. After the war, Millie ventured with other friends northward to Alaska and The Yukon Territory working for a time in Whitehorse. A few years later found her traveling to Yakima to spend time with newlywed sister Phyllis. Millie eventually found employment as a bookkeeper at the Seattle First National Bank Branch on 2nd Street in Yakima where she met the love of her life, Howard Grady. He became attracted to a fun loving Millie who always had a warm smile and a twinkle in her eyes to offer. Many life-long friendships developed during her time at the bank. Millie and Howard married in 1950 and they located to the far west of town on Minnesota Avenue (now 56th Ave).

Only child Clifford was born in 1952 and Millie began her life as the best Mom one could ever imagine or desire. 1956 found the family transferred to Seattle and, as they lived there for a number of years, a family focus and joy was involvement in the local church where many life-long relationships developed.

Even though she enjoyed work at times outside the home, Millie's passions included a deep love of family and absolute highlights were holiday times with family and trips back "home" to Minnesota to spend vacation times with her family and delightfully giggle with and spend rich joyous moments with her siblings and their families.

Millie was an incredible loving wife and mother and was a wonderful cook, baker and homemaker, always working to keep her domain spotless and comfortable. She enjoyed canning and craftwork plus yard work and gardening. Millie also enjoyed music, especially that which uplifted her God and Savior.

The greatest passion of Millie's life was enjoying an eternal relationship with The Lord and interaction with church family and related activities of teaching Sunday School, church study and fellowship groups, missions outreach and intercessory prayer. One life activity of which was an extreme joy was volunteering at Kings Garden Medicines for Missions who prepared shipments of medicines and supplies sent to missionary doctors in the field. Millie also had the gift of hospitality and enjoyed hosting visiting family and also housing visiting missionaries and traveling church youth.

When husband Howard became ill with cancer, Millie was wonderful caregiver exhibiting her commitment, love and self sacrifice as she was dedicated to his comfort and care.

During her final years in assisted living, Millie was determined to keep active and enjoyed walking with fellow residents, attending exercise sessions and chapel and playing Bingo with the goal of achieving Blackout--and selecting a nice prize. Her in-home caregivers became like family to us and we are ever grateful to Nelda Coder, Dana and Mary Keith, Judy Johnson and Kathy Fast. And, to the most caring and loving care team at Hillcrest at Living Care, you exhibited such wonderful and deep purpose in making Millie's days full and filled with love, joy and caring friendship.

Millie would want all to know that the most important aspect of earthly life is to gain relationship with the God of the universe which is possible only through believing in and accepting the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection from the dead giving us the gift of forgiveness, relationship and eternal life in His presence. As John 14:6 states, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Millie exhibited Christ- like character throughout her life because of and through her relationship with the loving God she knew and served.

Millie is survived by her son Clifford Grady of Yakima and brother Clayton Kruger of Walters, MN and a number of most dear and special nieces and nephews. Millie was preceded in death by her parents Theodore J. and Bertha(Sisson) Kruger, siblings Lorayne Mueller, Donald Kruger, Irene Jenson, Raymond Kruger and Phyllis Opp and loving husband Howard M. Grady.

Celebration of Life service will be held at Yakima Alliance Church, 902 S. 36th Avenue on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 1pm. Visitation will be available on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at Keith & Keith from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Memorials can be presented to Yakima Alliance Church or the Union Gospel Mission.

Memories of Millie can be read and contributed to at www.keithandkeith.com.