Mildred Moench "Millie" Tuten

A celebration of life for Mildred, "Millie", Moench Tuten will be held in Burkhalter Chapel at Trinity Methodist Church on Saturday, November 22, 2025, with visitation from 2:00 PM until time of service at 3:00 PM. A Private Family interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston, LA under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston, LA.
Millie was born in Brenham, TX on January 14, 1924, and flew to Jesus on November 19, 2025, at 101 years of age. Millie was preceded in death by her husband Joe, son Allen, her parents Gus and Elsie Moench, sisters Flora Ann Moench, Kay Moench Chandler and Jean Moench White, stepson Billy Joe Tuten and his son Pat Tuten and bonus granddaughter Shannon Sumrall.
Millie is survived by Allen's wife, MaryBelle Tuten, son Jim Tuten and wife Linda; granddaughters, Maribel Childress (Dan), Maradith Boone (Ryan), Rachel Simmons (Sean), Elizabeth Eley (Nathan), and Debbie Tuten Mangrum (Kenneth); and bonus granddaughter Sara Sumrall (RB). Millie is also survived by her much-loved great grandchildren; Mary Christine Childress Beaulieu (Gardner), Christian, Jon Alec, and Aaron Childress; Caroline, Ella and Hattie Boone; Ellen, Anna, and Jack Simmons; and James Revels Jr. (Alora), and Seth Mangram (Megan); and two great, great grandsons, Theodore Beaulieu and Easton Revels.
She is also survived by Nancy Tuten (Billy Joe), Jenifer Tuten (Pat), and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. "Just like family members" include Neill and Barbara Kirkland, James and Betsy Gouedy, and Jerry and Eliva Hilbun. In addition, there are many cherished friends here and all over Alaska who held special places in her heart and were recipients of her loving birthday cards.
Millie was loving, generous, positive, and helpful to all. She and Joe believed strongly in God, family, and love. Millie was adventurous! She met her husband, Joe, in Texas in 1942. They married after a two-month courtship and remained sweethearts for sixty-one years. They lived in forty-one towns moving with Joe's seismograph crew all around the United States and even Havanna, Cuba. They eventually settled in Joe's hometown of Ruston to raise their family. Millie truly loved Alaska and traveled there for twenty years on church mission trips. One very special trip was when she, Allen, and Jim attended the Iditarod dog sled race in Nome, AK.
Millie retired from Lewis & Company after thirty-four years as the "lingerie lady". She loved her co-workers and customers. After retirement, she volunteered as a Pink Lady at Lincoln General Hospital for 20 years. Millie loved Trinity Methodist Church and took an active part in many church activities. She was given the special Mission Recognition Award by the United Methodist Women. She was a proud member of the Littera Club and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. Millie's competitive spirit and love of bridge, any card games, and dominoes was well known to her family and "very special" card playing buddies of many years. She was also an avid bird watcher and loved to read any Alaskan books.
Pallbearers will be her "boys"; Christian Childress, Jon Childress, Aaron Childress, Seth Mangram, Robert Neill Kirkland, Jon Kirkland, and Joe Gouedy. Honorary pallbearers are James Revels Jr, and Jackson Simmons.
The family appreciates the loving care Millie was given by Shirley Modest and the compassionate aides from Tender Touch, the Arbor-Terrace of Ruston, and Compassus Hospice.
Memorials for Millie Tuten may be made to Trinity Methodist Church youth programs or TV ministry, or the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.