Josephine Clara Miller

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(Oct. 15, 1929 - Sept. 2, 2014)

Josephine Clara Miller of Powell died peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, surrounded by her family at the West Park Hospital in Cody, after a four-and-a-half-year battle with leukemia. She was 84.

Jo was born Oct. 15, 1929, in Ackley, Iowa, the daughter of John R. and Ina Cobie Lindaman. She grew up on the family farm, the third of five daughters.  

After excelling in her studies and playing the trumpet, she graduated high school in 1947. Jo attended teaching preparation classes for the summer and began teaching in a one-room school house at Grundy County School Township at the age of 17. After a year, she continued her education at Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she earned her teacher’s associate degree in 1949.  

Jo then taught elementary school at Rudd, Iowa, and Northwood, Iowa, until the spring of 1953 when she and a friend flipped a coin to determine whether they went east to Maine or west to Wyoming. Jo won the toss and they ended up in Powell, where she taught second grade at Parkside Elementary until getting married to a young handsome homesteader, Don Miller, in March 1954.  

They welcomed daughter Kathy in 1958, and were partners in their farming operation until their retirement in 2005.  

They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on March 1, 2014, with their entire family.

Don and Jo have been active participants in the Powell community and the Union Presbyterian Church for more than 60 years.  

They enjoyed years of traveling, playing bridge, skiing, gardening and enjoying the outdoors. Jo used her gifts of endless energy,  creativity, compassion, caring and commitment for countless projects, including teaching Sunday school, playing in the church bell choir, actively participating in the Presbyterian Women’s Circle, and acting as secretary/treasurer for the church memorial committee.  

She was a great friend to many, and her love and passion for her faith and her family were the center of her life.

Jo is survived by her husband Don of Powell; daughter and son-in-law Kathy and Bob Farthing of Poway, Calif.; grandson Kory (Shelby) Farthing of Denver; granddaughters Kristie (Dave) Riffle of Temecula, Calif., and Kellie (fiancé Kent Lighthall) Farthing of Denver; and great-grandson Luke Riffle of Temecula. Her surviving sisters are Ruthie (Glenn) Boheman and Darlene (Willard) DeBerg, both of Ackley, Iowa; sister-in-law Dorothy Varnum of Folsom, Calif.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins around the country.  She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Mildred Thomas and Jean Campbell.

Jo’s memorial service was held at the Union Presbyterian Church in Powell on Monday, Sept. 8. A private family interment at Crown Hill Cemetery was held after the service/reception at the church.  

Memorials in Jo’s honor can be sent to the Union Presbyterian Church, 329 N. Bent St., Powell, WY, 82435; or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org.

Arrangements are being handled by Thompson Funeral Home.

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