Velta Miller

Velta Marie (Anderson) Miller, (age 90), passed away on Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at Leisure Homestead, Stafford, KS. She was born November 30, 1921, on a farm northeast of Byers, KS, and was the daughter of Delbert Howard and Mabel Mattie Marie (Moore) Anderson. Velta attended school in Pratt, KS, and Byers, KS, and graduated from Byers High School in 1939. She was very active in music and sports while in school and was in the National Who’s Who in 4-H. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Byers, KS, the United Methodist Church of Stafford, KS, and a member of Culture Club of Stafford, KS.

In June of 1939, Velta attended Venus Academy Beauty School in Wichita, KS, and later went to work in a beauty shop in Stafford in December of 1939. During World War II, she was a receptionist for Cessna Aircraft Factory. She had her own beauty shop (Velta’s Beauty Shop) in the home from 1953-1971. She also enjoyed spending time in her yard and doing crafts as a hobby.

On February 16, 1941, she married Gordon Medaris Miller in Byers, KS, at the home of her parents. Upon Gordon’s return from WWII in January of 1946, they bought a home at 618 W. Stafford Street, Stafford, KS, where they would live the rest of their lives together and raising their two children (Monte and Alice). Gordon preceded her in death passing away on January 14, 1998. Others who preceded her in death were her parents, Delbert and Mabel Anderson, one brother, Gerald Dean Anderson, and two sisters, Viva Lee Anderson and Lois Faye (Anderson) Christie.

Those left to cherish her memory include a son, Monte R. Miller (and wife, Lynda), Topeka, KS; a daughter, Alice Kay Miller, Lenexa, KS; four grandchildren, Shawn Miller (and wife, Andrea), Olathe, KS, Ryan Anderson (and wife, Breana) Shawnee; KS; Kourtney (Miller) Burkhart (and husband, Cory), Goddard, KS; and Erin (Anderson) Pringle (and husband, Luke), Shawnee, KS; and eight great-grandchildren: Kayley and Caiden Anderson, Shawnee, KS; Gracie, Lucas, and Sophie Pringle, Shawnee, KS; and Medaris, Kerigan, and Lainie Burkhart, Goddard, KS; a brother-in-law, James Christie, Thermopolis, WY; and nephew, Richard Christie, West Valley, UT.

Velta was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend as her family was “her life”. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends and she will remain in our hearts forever.

The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Leisure Homestead for the excellent care that was given to her for the past three years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Leisure Homestead, Stafford, KS, in care of Minnis Funeral Chapel, Stafford, KS 67578. Funeral services will be held at Minnis Funeral Chapel, Stafford, KS, at 11:00 am on Friday, December 30, 2011. Interment will be at the Stafford Cemetery, Stafford, KS.