Pauline Rhea Miller

PONCA — Pauline Rhea Miller, 69, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and long-time teacher died peacefully at her home Jan. 14, 2022, in Ponca.

A prayer service for Pauline was held at the Ponca State Park Education Center.

The Memorial service was Friday at Salem Lutheran Church with Rev. Kim Belken officiating.

Services were under the direction of Mohr and Becker-Hunt Funeral Home, South Sioux City.

Pauline was born Feb. 3, 1952, in Ponca, the daughter of Arden and Opale Olson. Her father reportedly fainted at the sight of her birth, a trait Pauline inherited and practiced frequently, especially at the sight of needles and blood. She grew up on her family farms near Obert and Maskell, where her dad installed electricity for the family’s convenience. Indoor plumbing, on the other hand, was deemed unnecessary as the outhouse worked fine. Growing up Pauline shared a bed with her two sisters, where they placed her by the window, the coldest spot. Her elementary school years and early high school years were spent in the Obert-Maskell School District. Pauline loved sports, especially playing volleyball. She also loved to sing. The family attended Faith Lutheran Church in Maskell.

Through the years, Pauline won many purple ribbons at the county fair in sewing. This skill served her well as she sewed her own wedding dress, marrying Monty Miller on August 19, 1970, at the Congregational Church in Newcastle. The church was full of family and friends and yellow daises. Monty and Pauline managed to fit in a small honeymoon before football practice the next Monday, using the week’s salary given to them by Arden and Opale as a wedding gift.

After high school, she attended Kearney State and Wayne State College, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. She began her career in Pender, teaching kindergarten. Pauline then taught Resource with the ESU #1. She enjoyed her time teaching in the quickly vanishing one room schoolhouses. In 1991, she moved to Ponca Public Schools and again loved teaching kindergarten. Pauline retired in 2013.

Pauline was a member of Salem Lutheran Church, Ponca, where she served in various roles and was a member of the Evangelism Team. Pauline loved learning and reading and was treasurer of the Friends of the Library. She was also an officer in PEO in Ponca. She was a member of the Highland Oaks and Laurel Golf Leagues. She was very competitive and was pleased when she helped her team with a “wow shot” on a tee off.

Pauline’s interests included gardening, having an amazing green thumb. She also loved traveling; hiking and skiing in the mountains, tackling the best golf courses, swimming in the Virgin Islands, and thwarting pickpockets in Greece. She coached high school volleyball and was a girls’ softball coach for many years. She loved “road tripping” with the girls, especially touring old homes and cemeteries. Pauline performed in several musical productions put on by the Ponca community. The director said she was one of the best actresses she had ever worked with, taking on a character wholeheartedly. This was extremely evident when she played Elsa in the Sound of Music.

Pauline leaves behind her husband of 51 years, Monty; daughters, Lori and her husband, Tim Thomas, Wakefield, and Dr. Leah Miller, Missoula, Mont,; grandchildren, Caleb Thomas and his wife, Christina, Lincoln; Cody Thomas, Brookings, S.D.; and Cassidy and her husband, Ben Chase, Lincoln; her siblings, Lloyd (Patty) Olson, Kirbyville, Mo.; Jacquelyn Siebersma, Story, Wyo.; Eric “Rick” Olson and Candy Lubben, Vermillion, S.D.; Roger (Nancy) Olson, Lincoln; and Ardene (Eldon) Ficke, Lincoln. Monty’s family includes Jana Langemach, Lincoln; Lynn (Mark) Riniker, Onalaska, Wis.; Scott (Mary) Miller, Jefferson, S.D.; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Opale and Arden Olson; her in-laws, Evelyn and Ted Miller; and brothers-in-law, Steve ”Sebo” Siebersma, Norman Langemach Jr. and Bill West.

Memorials in lieu of gifts or flowers may be sent to St. Croix Hospice, 5710 Sunnybrook Dr., Sioux City, IA 51106.