Patricia Frances (Corring) Miller

Pat Miller, our beloved mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully at home on the afternoon of June 24, 2022 following a long and courageous battle with colon cancer.  She was 82 years old.  

Herman and Mary Corring welcomed the oldest of their three children, Patricia Frances, into the world on June 3, 1940 in Omaha, Nebraska. Two years later, the Corrings moved back to their family farm in Primrose, Nebraska where they raised corn and a few cattle. Herman built character in his offspring, telling them there was no need to hire farm hands because he had them. This early lesson instilled a work ethic in Pat that would stay with her all her days. Never one to just sit around, Pat felt energized by always having something for her hands to do. In addition to performing her farm chores, Pat was active in her local 4-H chapter. Every year, she would save the Gooch’s Best Red Circle stamps from bags of animal feed and travel with her sister to a livestock auction in Salina, Kansas where they used their collected stamps to purchase a calf to raise for their 4-H project. And another piece of the puzzle falls into place: Pat was always an avid coupon clipper! However, it was through 4-H that Pat developed the talent that she would be known for: sewing. She learned to sew at age 7 and would continue to develop her skills with a needle and thread throughout her life.  

Pat attended schools in Primrose, graduating in a class of 14 students in 1957. As with all small town schools, she participated in a little bit of everything, a necessity in order to make the activities of high school happen. After graduation, she moved to Omaha where she lived in a boarding house run by her aunt for Union Pacific railroad workers. For four years, she worked as a typist for Mutual of Omaha. Around 1961, a certain young man from her hometown returned from his tour of duty in Europe, which resulted in Pat driving home nearly every weekend. Leo and Pat would attend Mass at their small church and then go to the Saturday night dances that followed. Their parents enthusiastically embraced their courtship and on June 23, 1962, Leo Miller and Pat Corring were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Primrose. The entire town attended.  

Leo and Pat moved frequently for the first two years of their marriage as Leo worked on alarm systems at military sites. While in Rapid City, South Dakota, their first child, Tim, was born in 1963. Encouraged by Sam Lewis, a friend Leo met while attending trade school, the young Miller family moved to Idaho Falls in 1964 where Leo was hired as an instrumentation specialist at the Chemical Processing Plant at the National Reactor Testing Station. Their daughter, Debbie, was born in 1966 and, their family complete, they moved into a small house in the close-knit neighborhood on19th Street. Pat actively participated in her children’s lives, serving as a Cub Scout den leader and as a Girl Scout troop leader. Later, when her children reached high school, Pat was an enthusiastic member of the Skyline HS Booster Club. Pat bowled in local leagues for many years and frequently recorded games in the mid-200s. She joined Holy Rosary Catholic Church upon her arrival in Idaho Falls and actively participated in church life right up until her death. Her Catholic faith was very important to her and she was devoted to attending weekly Mass. She frequently petitioned the help of the saints in her daily life. St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost items, was her favorite. Although she looked forward to her yearly summer trips home to Nebraska, Pat met friends easily in Idaho Falls and was gifted with the ability to talk effortlessly with anyone. She was generous with her laughter and made everyone around her feel loved.

For many years, Pat worked as the alterations seamstress at Carroll Sellers and Miss KG, women’s clothing stores in Idaho Falls. Gaining confidence, she decided to start her own alterations business from her home. Eventually, she branched out, making beautiful special occasion dresses as well as doll clothes. Her crowning achievement was her daughter Debbie’s wedding dress: a long train with layers and layers of ruffles and hand-sewn beadwork on the bodice. She loved being a part of wedding celebrations and made countless bridesmaid and flower girl dresses. Pat was equally talented with a crochet hook and yarn, creating intricate blankets and afghans. She drew great joy from the delight of the people who received her items, especially her grandchildren. She patiently passed on her knowledge to all three of her granddaughters, purchasing sewing machines for each of them as a kind of “coming of age” gift. In later years, Pat transformed into a talented crafter. She was constantly on the lookout for new ideas and when she couldn’t find a pattern for something she had in mind, she made her own! Her imagination knew no bounds. Pat was a regular on the local craft show scene and loved all her close friends who shared her passion for handmade items.  

Pat also had a long career working for Idaho Falls School District #91. She worked in the lunchrooms at Clair E. Gale and Skyline, meeting several women who would be her lifelong friends. For 10 years, she was an aide in a self-contained special education classroom at Theresa Bunker Elementary. Her final work assignment was as a school companion for an individual student. She accompanied him from the time he started junior high until he graduated from Skyline High School. After her retirement, she frequently volunteered at Longfellow Elementary, helping in her daughter-in-law’s classroom, but also jumping in wherever she saw a need. Pat was the queen of the workroom and could make anything a teacher could dream up! At the same time, Pat was also employed at Gifts of Joy and at Kathy’s Hallmark. She loved collectible items and she possessed a wealth of knowledge about collectibles and the secondary market. Beanie Babies, Lladros, Cherished Teddies, Snow Villages, you name it, she knew about it. Ever the business woman, she loved the thrill of the hunt and the thrill  that came with finding a buyer.  

Pat’s great joy in life was taking part in the lives of her five grandchildren. In keeping with her hands-on personality, Pat always had a project in mind when the grandkids came over: sewing, crafting, baking cookies, gardening, making gingerbread houses. She loved going on camping weekends with her family. Holidays were a big deal. Pat and Leo would often spend Christmas Eve with Tim’s family, get up early on Christmas Day and travel to Seattle to spend holiday time with Debbie’s family. Pat attended everything: school performances, birthday parties, graduations, baseball and football games, volleyball matches, cross-country meets, gymnastic meets. From the time they could hit a ball off a tee to the time they were able to compete in out of town tournaments, Pat was there cheering in the stands. You could count on one hand the number of times she had to miss something. Their lives gave her countless more opportunities to make sports-themed craft items and often, the entire team was the recipient of her generosity. They all called her “Grandma Pat.” For a short time, Pat was blessed to enjoy three great-grandchildren and, again, the opportunity to make baby quilts, receiving blankets, sleep sacks, bibs, hooded bath towels, and her one-of-a-kind “quiet books.” 

Pat’s last 4 years were challenging, losing Leo and then shortly thereafter, receiving a diagnosis of colon cancer. Pat possessed a tremendous life force and fought the good fight for as long as she could. June 23, the day before she died, would have been her 60th wedding anniversary. We are comforted by the knowledge that Leo was waiting to welcome her and reunite with her. And we smile knowing that it would have been so unlike Pat to arrive on time. She had to have just one more conversation before she was ready to go, but we know Leo was waiting for her patiently, as he always did.

Our family would especially like to thank all of Pat’s lovely neighbors who took such good care of her - bringing her meals, shoveling her walks, keeping her company. The only thing she wanted at the end was to be in her home. She loved you all very much.

Pat is survived by her son Tim (Kellie) Miller of Idaho Falls; her daughter Debbie (Lance) LaCroix of Idaho Falls; her sister Rita Young of Waterloo, Iowa; and 5 grandchildren: Jake (Katie) Miller of Boise; Samantha (Kyle) Millican of Oklahoma City; Courtney Miller of Idaho Falls; Jared (Rowan) LaCroix of Moscow, ID; and Alex LaCroix of Idaho Falls. She is also survived by 3 great-grandchildren: Eleanor, Isaac, and Remi. And, of course, her many friends who loved her well. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo, her parents, Herman and Mary Corring, and her brother, Bill Corring.  

Funeral arrangements are being made through Wood Funeral Home. On Tuesday, July 5, 2022, we will pray the Rosary at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Avenue, at 6:00 p.m., followed by family visitation until 8:00 p.m.. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Rosary Church, 905 South Lee Avenue, on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at 10:00  a.m., followed by burial at Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery. A celebration of life luncheon will be held after Pat is laid to rest. We would love to have all of Pat’s friends join us.  

Pat requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to:

Community Food Basket of Idaho Falls, 245 N. Placer, Idaho Falls, ID 83402. Online donations can be made at: https://www.communityfoodbasketidahofalls.org/

Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these 

least brothers of mine, you did for me.