Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series:
Tribute
Folder:
DIG
Item:
271457
Title:
Mildred "Millie" Hermanson
Date:
3/1/1926-12/27/2024
Creator:
Inscription/Marks:
3/1/1926
Summary:
Our “Dancing Queen” went home to be with her Lord and Savior on December 27, 2024, comforted by family. As the heart and soul of our family, she will be dearly missed. Her thoughtfulness, honesty, spunkiness and sense of humor will be remembered by those who knew her well. Funeral services were held January 3, 2025, at First Lutheran Church in Tioga, ND. Pastor Mike Burns officiated. Burial was in United Cemetery in Tioga, ND.
Mildred (Millie) Alma Hermanson, 98, was born on March 1, 1926, on a farm south of Ray, ND, the youngest of six children of Charles and Mary (Schieltz) Barga. She was baptized on April 6, 1926, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Ray. Millie first attended school in a one-room school house in Nesson Valley Township. She and her siblings walked the 3-mile distance when it was nice outside, while riding behind their dad’s horse-drawn snow sled on cold winter days. She recalled using gas lanterns to see at night, listening to radio news and Charles playing the violin. Mary played piano and organ for the church many years.
Millie fondly recounted barn dances where neighbors enjoyed a fun evening of music and card games. She was proud of winning the top prize during a card game with adults at the age of 10. She cherished winning four pretty pink glasses her entire life, since growing up they didn’t have much.
She attended Ray Public Schools after moving to Ray, ND. Millie married Donald Johnson in a surprise double-wedding with her best friend. To this marriage two children were born, Dennis and Sandra. She married Christian Boe in 1947. They had two children, Bonnie and Arlene. Years later, she moved to Tioga where she worked hard and purchased her own home while raising her children. Millie was re-baptized into the Lutheran faith at First Lutheran Church, Tioga. Working at Helga’s Café as a waitress, she met the love of her life, Gunvald (Gunny) Hermanson. They happily married in 1959, and he adopted young Arlene. They welcomed another child, Brenda, a couple of years later. Gunny was a wonderful father to all of the children.
Gunny and Millie shared a love for music and enjoyed being part of a square-dancing group. Fishing, watching country westerns or Lawrence Welk, and calling bingo were some activities they did together. The tradition of making homemade donuts, rosettes and Norwegian potato klub was special. Millie ran the bowling alley kitchen and other roles, but above all, faith and family were their top priority. They loved all their children and grandchildren dearly. They had a happy life for almost 36 years before Gunny passed late 1995.
A loving mother, Millie was ready with a smile, encouraging word or little song to sing. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family, quickly started a pot of coffee if someone dropped by, and having a house full of kids and laughter brought her joy. She relished at pulling jokes with a sparkle in her eyes. Always ready to challenge us with a game of Skip Bo, cards or board games, she’d often encourage playing until early morning, leading to great memories for her children and grandchildren! She absolutely loved to dance and if music was playing, she was keeping time to it.
Eager to keep learning, Millie took courses in bookkeeping, typewriting and computers, and completed taxes without a calculator. She was active in the First Lutheran Church and Ladies’ Circle, Sons of Norway and Senior Citizens.
Millie received recognition awards from Tioga Long-Term Care for going above and beyond to help residents. Known for daily visits to her three siblings (often sneaking in treats like bananas and chocolates), she was especially fond of Brenda’s classmate Doug, helping him play bingo. During her four years in independent living, she refused to miss the wonderful old-time music by local musicians and looked forward to dancing weekly.
She is survived by her children, Sandi (Tim) Kenyon, of Baxter, MN, Arlene (Gary) Walhaug, of Minot, ND, Brenda (Gary) Stowe, of Rochester, MN; grandchildren, Dennette Clark, Valerie (Darren) Johnson-Farber, Missy Kenyon, Tom (Chrissy) Kenyon, James (Lonie) Kenyon, Jill (Ron) Ravensborg, Deb (John) Enloe, David (Mafoule) Kenyon, Denise Hasler, Melissa Walhaug, Laura (Chad) Thies, Scott Walhaug, Jessica Stowe (Alex Kiel), Julia (Carter) Krebsbach; 39 great-grandchildren and 40 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband, Gunvald; son, Dennis and wife Sharlene Johnson; daughter, Bonnie and husband Terry Walhaug; grandsons, Timothy Kenyon Jr. and Michael Johnson; great-granddaughter, Nichole Johnson; brother, Joseph Barga; sisters, Lucille Barga, Theresa (Tracy) and husband Hack Thompson, Leona and husband Arnold Blikre, Ethel and husband Harold “Bud” Hesson; brothers-in-law, Ernell and wife Bernice Hermanson, Hartvin Hermanson, Gene Heller, Byeloth and wife Caroline Hermanson, and Ronny Fox; sisters-in-law, Elveida and husband Arvid Olson, Marcella and husband Eilert Haakenson; nephews, Floyd Hickel, Orville Bragg, Gerald Hermanson, Maynard Hermanson, Ernest Haakenson, Jim Heller, Roger Fox and Jimmy Hesson; nieces, Sandra Gaglidare and Merna Will.
Red ID: FND_I_78947 Image ID: 521597 Image Notes: FND001 271457
