Kathleen Miller

1934 - 2025

A. Kathleen (Barrett) Miller, 91, completed her earthly journey and began her heavenly one, on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. She was a precious and beloved wife, mother, grandma, sister, aunt, and friend, who believed in her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Cherished daughter of Truman and Ruth (Heater) Barrett, she was born on September 17, 1934, in Frontier County, Nebraska. She was the oldest of four siblings: brother, Bruce and sisters, Rosalie and Gwen.

Kathleen grew up on the family farm and attended the Rich and Kester country schools. She rode her horse, Beauty, to and from school with her brother. While in high school she enjoyed band, chorus, pep club, and class plays; was also a member of the 4-H Beef and Sewing clubs, and took piano lessons. She worked on the family farm and detasseled corn in the Cozad area. She graduated from Eustis High School in 1952 furthering her education at Central College McPherson, Kansas, and McCook Junior College, McCook, Nebraska, majoring in Elementary Education. During her college years, she was a waitress at Moffit's Café in McCook and worked at the Co-op grocery store in Eustis.

Kathleen began teaching at Homerville Country School south of Elwood, also taught students at Earl and Bailey, and ended her teaching years at Orafino Country School. At an Orafino School Christmas program is where she first met her love of almost seventy years.

In July of 1956, Kathleen was engaged to Richard Lee Miller. On December 30, 1956, they were married at the Methodist Church in Cambridge, Nebraska.

They farmed twenty miles north of Cambridge for thirty-five years. She was a supporting farm wife and embraced her role helping with the many chores and harvests while raising her family. She also drove the school bus part time. After moving to Cambridge, Kathleen was a Customer Service Representative at Home Federal Savings and Loan for six years. She was a very dedicated and devoted mother to her four children: Trisha, Coralyn, Kurt and Michelle.

Kathleen had a steadfast faith journey that started in the Barrett Family home. She attended Sunday School and church at Mt. Gilead Free Methodist Church while growing up. Kathleen was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Farnam, Nebraska, and after moving from the farm to Cambridge, she worshiped at the Calvary Baptist Church. She was a part of the Nazarene Church Mission Circle and the Baptist Church Ladies Bible Study and Ministry Outreach.

Kathleen took time to enjoy friends and hobbies. She was a part of the Federated Women's Club - Cambridge; Central Community Extension Club – Orafino; Town & Country Coffee Club and Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority. She was a wonderful cook and expressed her love through baking, trying new recipes, and sharing with others. She liked needlework, sewing and tending to her garden and flowers; she especially thought "four o'clocks" were beautiful. Katheen loved to read and enjoyed trips to the library. She was also an encourager to others with her note writing and sending cards. She showed concern for her grandchildren and did remarkably well at remembering their special occasions and events.

Kathleen was a geography whiz. She could remember towns, locations, and highway numbers. You might find her studying an atlas. She took trips in her youth that were business related to her dad's Hereford cattle, also enjoyed Colorado and South Dakota as a family. She treasured bus trips across the country with her grandmother Heater, college and teacher friends. She talked often about her trips to Niagara Falls, the West Coast and Canada.

She was a fan of Nebraska Cornhusker Football, car and horse racing. She especially enjoyed country music with George Strait being her favorite.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Truman and Ruth Barrett; son, Kurt Richard Miller; granddaughters, Kily Camille Miller and Brittany Lee Burton; brother, Bruce Barrett; brothers-in-laws, Wayne Joy and Loren Carlisle; grandson-in-law, Mark Flanders; nephew, Barry Barrett.

In addition to her husband, survivors include children, Trisha (Bill) Moore, Cambridge, Nebraska; Coralyn (Bill) Burton, Elkhorn, Nebraska; Michelle (Dudley) Scharff, Minden, Nebraska. Daughter-in-law, Sherrelle Miller, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Nine grandchildren: Lindsey Jurey, Ashley (Al) Bredthauer, Grant (Becky) Moore, Brett (Candice) Burton, Brooke (Marshall) Egermier, Breanne Burton, Jamie Flanders Shelley, Andrea Miller and Tomi Winston. Twenty-one great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson. Sisters, Rosalie Joy, Eustis, Nebraska; Gwen Carlisle, Colon, Michigan. Sisters-in-law, Loretta Barrett, Eustis, Nebraska; Eunice Miller, Cambridge, Nebraska, as well as a host of extended relatives and friends.

Kathleen's family wishes to thank the staff and administrators of Elwood Care Center, Elwood, Nebraska, the staff and administrators of Tri-Valley Clinic and Hospital, Cambridge, Nebraska, and Dr. Shiuvaun Jaeger – all of whom provided love and care for Kathleen in her final years of life.

Memorials may be given in her name to Butler Memorial Library, Trinity Community Church, and Calvary Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be Monday, November 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Community Church with Pastor Tim Burke officiating. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery, Cambridge, Nebraska.

Visitation will be on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Lockenour-Jones Funeral Home.

Friends may visit the funeral home or send condolences online at www.lockenour.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lockenour-Jones mortuary of Cambridge.