Bessie Miller

BESSIE MILLER IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Bessie Habbeshaw Criddle Miller passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 14 at age 96 of natural causes incident to age. She was born on July 29, 1912 at the family home in Basalt to Charles and Harriet Habbeshaw Criddle. She had one brother, Alvin, born in 1918, and thirteen half-brothers and half-sisters. She attended grade school in Basalt and graduated from Firth High School. Her father was postmaster in Basalt and she helped him transport and deliver the mail. She also worked at jobs around the farming community. She was active in the LDS church, serving as organist, teacher, counselor, and secretary. On May 18, 1936, she was married to Edward J. Miller. The marriage was solemnized in the LDS Temple in Logan, Utah on July 11, 1940. They had three children. Bessie and her husband rented a farm south of Shelley and in 1946 they bought their own farm located between Shelley and Basalt. She was a wonderful cook and worked hard at raising her family and being a farm wife, including gardening, bottling food, and baking all the bread for the family. She also enjoyed crocheting, quilting, raising flowers, playing the piano, and reading. In January 1955 Bessie's husband was involved in a truck-train collision and suffered serious injuries from which he did not completely recover. From that time Bessie had to become the leader of the family. Her children are grateful for the courage with which she faced that disaster and for the way she kept the family functioning in spite of adversity. Her husband passed away in January 1969. Bessie lived on the family farm until 1997, when she moved to the home of her daughter Sharen in Idaho Falls. She lived the last two years of her life at Turtle and Crane in Idaho Falls. The family wishes to thank Turtle and Crane, Idaho Home Health, and Creekside for the assistance they provided during the last years of her life. Bessie is survived by her three children, Edward C. (Patricia) Miller of Broomfield CO, Sharen (Dell) Stech of Idaho Falls, and Ronald C. (Kathy) Miller of Silverdale WA; and by thirteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon on Monday, May 18, 2009 at the Firth LDS Stake Center in Basalt. Friends may meet with the family on Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Basalt Cemetery alongside her husband. ---------------------------------------------------- Condolences received online: Mark Anderson mark@ida.net I enjoyed Bessie at our music time at Turtle and Crane. She loved music. After my wife Carol died, I decided to end our music time on Thursdays. It was just too hard to come back. I will always cherish my friendship with Bessie. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time of your loss. Sincerely, Mark Anderson family Kevin and Heather Layton We just want you as a family to know that we are thinking about you and hope that this time can be a positive one and you can enjoy the time together as a family. Gary and Jeannie Lythgoe, We provided the sacrament meetings at Turtle & Crane the past year and got to know Bessie. It was evident she loved church and was usually there when feeling up to it. After her injuries from falling she slowly went downhill and seldom opened her eyes when we saw her. Her granddaughter and great-grandaughter attended with her the past few months before she moved into Bldg 1 and always helped out and gave her much love and attention. We are grateful we got to know her and after reading her obituary, so wished we had known her earlier. What a great lady. Thank heavens she has finished her life and en-dured the vicissitudes of life well here and has gone on to receive her reward. May the special memories you have of her sustain you in the days ahead. Our sincere sympathy. Gary & Jeannie Lythgoe Harvey Nielsen hhnster@gmail.com We send our condolences to the family of Bessie Miller. Unfortunately, we have been out of town and were not aware of her death until following the services. I deeply treasure my acquaintance with her son, Ron, as well as Sharon as a neighbor in the same ward years ago. Les and Nan Shinkle We are sorry to hear of your loss. We loved Bessie, and visiting teaching her. She was a beautiful lady, and always a pleasure to visit. Our best wishes to you and your family, we love you. Love, Les and Nan