Kaye Miller, age 89, of Orangeville, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, April 6, 2024. She was born Kathleen Bertha Miltimore in Sweetsburg, Quebec, Canada on January 23, 1935, to Walter and Evelyn (Wright) Miltimore.
She met her high school sweetheart, Bob, (Robert Charles Miller of Brome Centre, Quebec) at a church social, where he was impressed with her softball skills. They were married on October 12, 1954, in Sweetsburg (now Cowansville), Quebec. Bob was recruited to be the herd manager at Ravenglen Farm in Antioch, Illinois in 1956. Kaye traveled by train to her new home in the U.S. on her 21st birthday.
Kaye and her husband started their family farm, Mil-R-Mor, in 1962 in the Huntley/Dundee, Illinois area. In 2006, they relocated the farm and family to Orangeville, Illinois. Kaye was the backbone of her husband’s farming career. Together, they raised registered Holstein dairy cattle. Bob gives Kaye credit for encouraging him to buy a cow named C Glenridge Citation Roxy in 1974. Roxy would later go on to be one of the most famous cows around the globe, being named International Cow of the Century and Queen of the Breed.
Kaye loved traveling, often to see family back in Canada, or to various Holstein events with Bob and the family. Once during a local milk strike to protest low prices, she made over 500 pounds of butter while others poured their milk on the fields. Throughout Kaye and Bob’s life, they enjoyed music and dancing each week. Kaye loved playing cards with family and friends. She cherished family time, especially the hours spent with her 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Kathleen is survived by her husband and partner in life, Robert; five children: Wendy (Ardishir) Rashidi, Marshall Craig (Beverly) Miller, Madeline (Stephen) Schultz, Crystal (John) Sheehan and Kathryn Miller; and her dear sister Barbara Miltimore, as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Deborah, on October 25, 1964, who died in a farming accident; her parents; an infant brother, Richard; and three sisters: Grace, Shirley, and Norma.
A visitation will take place from 2:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the United Methodist Church in Orangeville, Illinois.
A funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024, at the United Methodist Church in Orangeville, Illinois, with a visitation prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Internment will take place at Sunset Acres Cemetery, Orangeville, Illinois. A luncheon will follow. Pastor Roger Bronkema will officiate the services.
Memorials may be made to the National Holstein Women’s Scholarship Organization, or to the United Methodist Church in Orangeville, Illinois.
Memorials can be sent to the family at :
Leamon Funeral Home
Attn: Kathleen Miller Family
P.O. Box 226
Lena, IL 61048
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.leamonfh.com.
