Donna Miller

Donna Mae (Duensing) Miller, 89, of Beatrice passed away on June 29, 2025 at Beatrice Good Samaritan Society. She was born on August 9, 1935, to William F. and Anna K. (Klaus) Duensing at Marysville, lived in rural Marysville during the early years of her life, and grew up in the Odell and Diller vicinity. She attended various elementary grade schools and attended Bethlehem Lutheran Parochial School at Bremen, Kansas, where she was confirmed in April 1949. Donna graduated from Diller High School in l953 and attended Fairbury Junior College. In July 1955, Donna married Lawrence Kleine, and later they divorced. On December 27, 1987, she married Roy Miller at Beatrice.She taught rural school in Gage and Jefferson Counties from 1953 to 1957. She was employed as a nurse at the Lutheran Hospital from 1957 to 1958. The couple moved to Daykin following her husband’s return from military service. After five years of farming the family farm, they moved back to Beatrice. She was a stay-at-home mom, raising her three children until they started school. She was then employed at Bryant Air Conditioning and later employed by the City of Beatrice, Board of Public Works, from which she retired in 1991 after 25-plus years of service. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School for 12 years and directed numerous choirs over the years. She was a former member of the Adult Choir, Past President of the ELCA Women of the church, and served six years on the Church Council serving on various committees. She was actively involved in helping the Laotian families get established in Beatrice which were sponsored by St. John Lutheran Church. She served on the Altar Guild and was a member of the Naomi Circle.Donna was past President of the Beatrice Area Singles Group; served as past President of the Women’s Division of the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce, serving in 1983; member of the American Legion Auxiliary; and actively involved as a volunteer with the Bargain Box, being membership chairman among other duties.Music was the love of her life, playing the piano by ear at an early age. She entertained at different functions and programs. She was a substitute pianist at the Pickrell Methodist Church and part-time organist for St. John Lutheran Church Saturday evening services for many years. In l976, the Gospel IV Quartet was formed, and they sang for many years. In 1998, she organized the Beatrice Senior Singers and became their director. She played with the Happy Music Makers Band as well as other bands, entertaining at nursing homes and special programs. She was well known for her outstanding garage sales. Donna enjoyed traveling with her husband, Roy, touring all the states in the USA, including a special trip to Alaska. One highlight of her travels was touring the Holy Land, going to Israel with a group from St. John and the surrounding area. She and Roy enjoyed cruising in their antique cars and going to parades. She enjoyed crafting, decorating, flower gardening and just being outdoors. She was always there to be a helpmeet to her husband, Roy.Donna enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She always loved the outdoors and in her later years she greatly enjoyed the love and companionship of her precious cats. She is survived by her sons, Steve Kleine and wife, Denise of Beatrice and Jeff Kleine of Filley; daughter, Brenda Orndorff and husband, Kirk of Loveland, CO; three grandsons, Eric Kleine and Jared Kleine, both of Beatrice, and Wm. Kirk Orndorff of Loveland, Colorado; three granddaughters, Stacy (Allen) Roelfs of Diller, Ashley (Ben) Mayes of Granite Canyon, Wyoming, and Holly Orndorff (Nate McMorris, fiancée) of Loveland, Colorado; six great-granddaughters, Zeondra and Jazlyn Kleine, Aubrey Roelfs, and Kenadie, Everly, and Hadlee Mayes; two great-grandsons, Carter and August Mayes; step-children, Linda Schnier of Denver, Colorado, Kent (Carol) Miller of Grass Valley, California, and Steve (Chris) Miller of Beatrice; step-grandchildren, Melissa (Shane) Dickard and Melanie (Ben) Chenard, both of Denver, Matthew (Chris) Schnier of Denver, Will Miller of Beatrice, Roxanne Miller of Portland, Oregon, and Zach Miller of Redding, California; step-great grandchildren, Devon, Zander and Rylee Schnier, Julia and Samuel Chenard, Eleanor (Ella) and Daniel Dickard, and Shaleen and Shelby Dickard; numerous nieces and nephews. Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Miller; parents, William and Anna Duensing; brothers, Norman Duensing and Roland Duensing; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Duensing and Patricia Duensing; daughter-in-law, Janeen (Kemper) Kleine; nephew Scott Duensing, and infant nephew, Donald Lee Duensing. Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at St. John Lutheran Church of Beatrice with Pastor Travis Panning officiating. Burial will be at the Pleasant View Cemetery of rural Pickrell. A family prayer service will be held at 9:30 A.M. on Wednesday in the chapel at the church. The body will lie in state at the Fox Funeral Home on Tuesday from noon until 8:00 P.M. www.foxfuneralhome.net Fox Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Beatrice is in charge of the arrangements.

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