Willine Miller

SIKESTON, Mo. – Dora Willine (Rettig) Miller departed for her heavenly home on Oct. 17, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Willine was born Feb. 14, 1922, to Otto and Bertha (Wagoner) Rettig. She was raised on a farm north of Sikeston, Missouri. She graduated Blodgett High School in 1939 and was valedictorian of her class. On Nov. 24, 1940, she married Ferrell Miller in Charleston, Missouri. From this union were born five children.

During Willine’s lifetime, she performed many jobs: picking cotton at Missouri Ag Experiment Farm, director of Kiddieland Nursery School for 14 years, worked at H&R Block for fifteen years, and worked at Centerre Bank data processing for two years. She continued to work well into her 90’s doing taxes for residents at the nursing homes and the Senior Center. Willine religiously baked sourdough bread and took it to her neighbors and friends in the nursing homes.

She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene and volunteered to start Eastside Church of the Nazarene in 1959. She was missionary president for many years and gathered supplies to send to the mission fields. She taught Sunday school at the church for fifty plus years as well as served on the board of the church.

Willine is survived by three sons, Ron Miller, Roy Miller (wife Linda) of Sikeston, and Lyle Miller (wife Elaine) of Circleville, Ohio; daughter-in-law, Jan Miller of Sikeston; son-in-law, Leonard Mallot of Oveida, Florida; twelve grandchildren; twenty-eight great grandchildren; and five great great grandchildren.

Preceding Willine in death were her parents, her husband Ferrell Miller, her son Dennis Miller, and her daughter Sharron Mallot; she was also preceded in death by two brothers Sherman and Laverne Rettig and four sisters Cleo Davis, Sadie James, Lola Adcock, and Dorothy Broderick.

Visitation will be held on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston, where funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, at 10 a.m. with David Jones officiating.

Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.

Pallbearers will be Willine’s grandsons: Darin Miller, Jason Miller, Travis Miller, Chris Miller, Ben Miller, and Gavin Miller.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nunneleefuneralchapel.com for the Miller family.