Mary MILLIKEN

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MILLIKEN: Mary Lorraine (Boulton) Milliken, Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Sister, Aunt passed away on Sunday, September 15th at the Willowview Home in Reston, Manitoba. Born on August 2, 1928, the fifth daughter and seventh child, of Thomas Edwin and Elsie Norah (Bushby) Boulton, our Mother grew up on the family farm in the Kinloss district. She attended school at Kinloss and high school in Reston, Manitoba. After high school, Mom took a six-week course in Tuxedo and then taught on permit for one year at Pacific School near Virden, in a one room school with Grades 1 through 9. She then went to Normal School. As kids, like many other children who had parents who attended “Normal” school, we made many jokes about having to go to “Normal School” in order to be a teacher. Upon completion of her training, she taught in Pipestone, Kinloss and Reston. On July 15, 1950 in St. John’s Anglican Church, Reston, Manitoba, our Mom married her high school sweetheart, our Dad, Kenneth Beverley (Bev) Milliken. To this marriage we, Wendy, Ken, Ann and Robbie, were born. Our parents married life began in the Kinloss district, followed by time spent in the Hillview district, moving to the Donald Farm on the Stoney Creek in 1960 where they remained until 2008. An active volunteer and community person, Mom was involved in a variety of local organizations. These included the St. John’s ACW, the Linklater Guild, the Pipestone-Albert Agricultural Society, the Reston Community Library and the Reston Arts Club. During her time as School director with the Ag Society, Mom encouraged all of us to enter the various exhibits for school work, grains and grasses, food and sewing competitions. In later life, she transferred this encouragement of participation to her grandchildren. Mom, along with our Dad, supported each of us to join the 4-H program. They were with us at the various 4-H activities including; public speaking events, 4-H rallies and chaperoning the many 4-H travel tours of the Reston 4-H Beef Club. She was a 4-H leader, as well, receiving her five year certificate in 1974. An avid gardener, canning and pickling were Mom’s mantra. We all remember the huge garden that had to be planted every spring and weeded during the summer; followed by the numerous amounts of canning, freezing and pickling that took place. Mom instilled a great love and respect for nature in all of us. Walking treks through the pasture for spring crocuses was a yearly occurrence. Our parents took up square dancing in the late ‘60s and over the years traveled to many communities taking part in Square Dance Jamborees. Together they taught square dancing at the Reston Elementary School, one of their pupils being their granddaughter, Jennifer. They were recognized and awarded a Fort la Bosse Educators Award for their volunteer time and support to this activity. In 2008, they received the Crocus Long Service Award for their outstanding dedication to the square and round dance movement. Mom loved to journal on the yearly calendar. As a family, we have years and years’ worth of calendars with notes on every day’s activities. Mom’s journaling expanded when she wrote memories of her growing up years on the farm in the 1984 RM of Albert history book, Reflections of Time. With the arrival of grandchildren, she started a grow chart that hung in the kitchen at the farm. It became a common gathering place with much banter and teasing by each grandchild to see who had grown the tallest. Mom’s nine grandchildren were fortunate to have her support at their many concerts, 4-H activities, sporting events, graduations and weddings. Mom and Dad were avid campers and each of the grandchildren has special memories of camping with them. A special highlight of Mom’s life was working on the 50th anniversary of the 1949 Normal School reunion, where she reconnected with many of her colleagues. Mom joined the Reston Arts club and each of us, including the grandchildren, have one of her paintings in our homes. Her volunteer time at the Willowview Home, with the residents, in the early years of the new millennium became known as “Mary’s Hour.” In 2008, she along with our Dad left the farm and moved to a home, they had purchased in Reston. Following our Dad’s heart attack and passing at the Willowview home in February of 2010, Mom remained in the house until the spring of 2011. A bad fall and the onset of dementia caused Mom to enter the Willowview home and remain there. On September 5th ten days prior to her passing, our Mom became a 35 year breast cancer survivor. Our Mom will be missed and thought of often by – daughter Wendy Bulloch of Brandon, grandson Colin and Dianne and great grandson Logan of Oak Bluff, grandson Cameron of Seoul, Korea; son Ken and Eileen Milliken of Reston, granddaughter Jennifer and Greg Bell and great grandson Luke of Warman, Saskatchewan, grandson Derek and partner Jill Nichol of Brandon; daughter Ann and Brent Patmore of Virden, grandson Keenan and partner Morgan Vespa of Winnipeg, granddaughter Kaitlyn and fiancé Kenneth Stoop of Virden; son Robbie and Dale Milliken, grandson Dillon and partner Chailey Butler, grandson Cody and partner Josie Bertholet and granddaughter Jessica and partner Arlen Mongeon, all of Reston. Mom is survived by her brother Frank Boulton of Reston, sister-in-law Roberta Lappin of Palm Springs, California and brother-in-law Charles Elliott of Pipestone, many nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of our Mom and Grandma’s life was held on Friday September 20th at the Pipestone Community Hall in Pipestone Manitoba, Reverend Dwight Rutherford officiated at the service, with organist Shirley Nolan of Virden and a joint choir from the Reston Anglican, Reston and Pipestone United churches providing the music. A favorite poem of our Mom’s “When God Created Mothers” by Erma Bombeck was read by Ann. Granddaughter Jennifer Milliken Bell gave the eulogy, sharing stories and memories of our Mom and Grandma. Pallbearers were Mom’s grandchildren: Colin Bulloch, Derek Milliken, Keenan Patmore, Dillon Milliken, Cody Milliken and Kenneth Stoop. Interment was in the Reston cemetery. A time of fellowship was enjoyed over lunch; served by the Pipestone Guild at the Pipestone Hall. If so desired, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

As published in Brandon Sun on Oct 12, 2013