Frances Elizabeth Miller

Frances Elizabeth Miller, 88, a long time Fort Collins resident, having suffered a stroke on January 24th, passed away upon the sunrise Saturday, February 28th. Frances was born in Phillipsburg, Kansas on July 11, 1926, the youngest of four daughters of Minnie Mae (Hatten) and Frank Earl Pickinpaugh. As an infant of three weeks, Frances and her family moved to Loveland, Colorado, traveling in an open touring car. Her youth was spent in Loveland and she graduated from Loveland High school in 1945. Frances met her future husband, Jack, during the summer of 1943, at the Jitney Dance Center in Longmont, Colorado. After Jack served in the military (Army Air Corps), for “the remainder of the 'duration'”, they were married on Armistice Day, November 11, 1945. The next few years were spent working in the Montgomery Ward Catalog Office and working along side Jack and his father, building their home near City Park where she raised her family and lived from 1949 until her death. Though always a homemaker first and foremost, as her children matured, Frances accepted employment with the Larimer Children’s Center, and later, Poudre R-1 School District as the secretary at Moore Elementary School. She was known for her quick smile and spontaneous laugh. Her interests and hobbies included cooking, gardening and nurturing her houseplants (many beginnings of plants now grace the homes of friends and family), embroidery (countless dish towels and pillowcases were given as gifts), walking and swimming (before anyone thought about the benefits of exercise) and travel. She flew with Jack in their personal aircraft throughout the fifty continental United States and later both by commercial air and coach from Alaska to the Caribbean, Europe and from The British Isles to the South Pacific. We remember a gracious and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose greatest pride was always family, home, and friends. She made every person that entered her home feel special, was a wonderful conversationalist, and had the amazing ability to remain positive even in unfavorable circumstances. She was incredibly thoughtful, giving and kind, but mostly a gentle and patient spirit who was loved by many and always gave the most important gift of all … her time. Besides her husband, Jack, of sixty-nine plus years, Frances is survived by her son, Dale L. Miller (Beverly) and daughter, Gail L. Bondhus (John R.) of Fort Collins, granddaughters, Summer Legendre (Jon) of Johnstown, Vanessa Bondhus (Brendan Nook), Kevin Miller (Nate Spotts) and grandson, Garrett Miller (Tirrel), all of Fort Collins. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Grant and Lucca Legendre of Johnstown, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Frances was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Virginia Michaud, Jeanne Smith and Fern Claussen as well as many other relatives and friends, too numerous to list. The family wishes to extend a very special Thank You to all of Frances’ caregivers in the Emergency Room at Poudre Valley Hospital, EagleMed Air Ambulance, the Emergency Room, Stroke, Cardiac and Acute Rehab sections at The University of Colorado Hospital (Anschutz In-Patient Pavillion) and the Pathways Hospice Unit located in the McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado. Memorial contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Fort Collins, CO 80524. Cremation has taken place. Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Private family interment will be at Resthaven Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

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Frances Elizabeth Miller

July 11, 1926 - February 28, 2015