Mildred “Millie” Lowe 12/19/2015

Mildred Joyce “Millie” (Johnson) Lowe (December 1, 1920 – December 19, 2015)

 

Mildred Joyce “Millie” (Johnson) Lowe, age 95, of River Falls, WI, died Saturday, December 19, at The Lutheran Home in River Falls.

 

Millie was born December 1, 1920 in Minneapolis, MN to D. Fredolph and Helma (Midthun) Johnson. She grew up mostly in Minneapolis, attended Roosevelt High School, and graduated from Chetek, WI High School in 1938. She then attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis to develop her bookkeeping and secretarial skills. Millie then worked in banks in Clayton, WI, Minneapolis, and Salina, KS, and did office work in a variety of settings after that. She considered the high point of her professional career to be serving as office manager and secretary for the former Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission, headquartered in Hudson, WI.

 

Millie’s first marriage was to Charles “Chuck” Paulson, of Clayton, WI, on July 3, 1943, in Denver, CO, where Chuck was stationed in the Army Air Corps during World War II. They returned to the Clayton/Amery area, where their two children were born—Dennis and Linda. They lived in Amery and Eau Claire, WI, Richfield, MN, and finally in Hudson, WI. 

 

Millie’s second marriage was to Kenneth C. “KC” Lowe, on April 24, 1971 in Hudson. They had 41 happy years together, living in Eau Claire and River Falls. KC died on March 17, 2013. 

 

The most important thing in Millie’s life was her family and friends—her husband KC, her children, step-children, and their families. She most enjoyed being surrounded by her family and friends for social and holiday gatherings. Millie strongly embraced her Norwegian/Swedish ethnic heritage. She took up Norwegian rosemaling for some years, creating many beautiful hand-painted pieces for family and friends. She also had a large collection of Scandinavian collectibles, and loved to give Scandinavian-made gifts for Christmas and birthdays. She fulfilled a life-long dream of visiting her ancestral home in Norway in 1996. Millie was baptized and confirmed at the former St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in south Minneapolis; she remained a life-long Lutheran, and was an active member of Ezekiel Lutheran Church in River Falls and its women’s groups for many years. She maintained her sweet disposition and wittiness to the end. 

 

Millie is survived by her two children: Dennis Paulson and Linda Paulson; her step-children: Barbara Branch, Gregg Lowe (Annie), Mary Lowe, and Anne Lowe; grandchildren: Noelle Paulson (Andreas Vitalis), Joel Paulson, Scott Branch (Kia), Kristi Branch (Pat MacNabb), Charena Ducharme (Jaques), Andrew Branch (Abby), Geolina Berens, Elizabeth Lowe, and Kathryn Lowe; and by great-grandchildren: Pavel Vitalis, Courtney and Cameron MacNabb, Michael Ducharme, Sydney and Samantha Berens; by a sister, Harriet Huset; and by other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, KC Lowe; her brother, Donald F. Johnson; and a sister, Helen Johnson (in childhood). 

 

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 29, at Ezekiel Lutheran Church in River Falls. Visitation preceded the service from 1 – 2 p.m. at the church. She was laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery in River Falls. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers are preferred to Ezekiel Lutheran Church or Habitat for Humanity. Millie’s family is thankful to the nursing care staff of The Lutheran Home, the staff and visitors from St Croix Hospice, the pastors and members of Ezekiel Lutheran Church, and other neighbors and friends for their visits. 

 

Funeral arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral and Cremation Services of River Falls.