Mary Miller

Mary Miller (St. Anthony)
April 20, 1931 - December 2, 2023
Age 92 of Mahtomedi, Minnesota

Passed away peacefully on December 2, 2023. Preceded in death by husband, Lawrence Joseph Miller. Survived by children, John, Joseph, Missy, Paul, Ann, & Sarah and 12 grandchildren.

Funeral Mass at 11am December 19th (visitation @ 10am) at St. Jude of the Lake Catholic Church, 700 Mahtomedi Ave. Mahtomedi, MN 55115.

Mary Louise Miller (nee St. Anthony) was born on April 20, 1931 to Cecelia and Rudolph St. Anthony. A graduate of Washburn Highschool (1949), she studied at St. Catherine University ('53) and graduated with a BA in English / Philosophy / Chemistry with a Minor in Latin. She earned a Master's Degree in English from the University of Minnesota.

If you knew her at all, this will have your head nodding in agreement. From an early age she was a force to be reckoned with. Starting in 1st grade at Forest Lake she was elected Class President and continued as President every year afterward until her senior year at Washburn High when girls couldn't run for President...so she took the position as Vice President.

Mary was the Aquatennial Queen candidate for South Minneapolis in 1949. She was the College Board fashion representative at Young Quinlan and she worked at the Canyon Hotel in Yellowstone Park -- a wonderful experience in which she encouraged her children to participate.

Mary went overseas where she ran a service club in Germany which provided recreation for US Soldiers. She traveled all over Europe for thirteen months and was featured in the Army movie, "The Big Picture" about military service activities. She had a film crew and traveled to various sites, including Paris. While abroad, she attended classes at local Erlangen University in Germany. Upon returning to the US, she started teaching at South High - tough place where she replaced a teacher who had been hit with a bb from a bb gun in class. She had to lock the door to keep kids in class. In her words, she was a peripatetic (I had to look it up too) teacher. After substitute teaching at a number of local high schools, she moved to Edina to teach English at the Jr. High.

Mary met Larry Miller at a dance at the Officer's Club, where Larry playfully sat on her lap and asked, "Is this seat taken?" - she married him on Oct. 24, 1959 and they had six wonderful children. Larry died while playing tennis on Oct. 2, 1971. Four months later she started an editorial job at 3M which her neighbor, Bud Rappa, had told her about.

At 3M, Mary moved into Corporate Marketing and International Advertising. In addition to her corporate responsibilities, she served as President of the 3M Language Society and as President of the Minnesota Advertising Society.

Mary retired from 3M in 1996 and continued her relationship with the company by teaching English as a Second Language to 3M foreign employees and families until 2003. She continued as editor of the 3M retiree magazine, Encore. She was recognized as an outstanding graduate by St. Kate's, recognized as an outstanding Community Leader by the YWCA, featured in the 3M employee publication as a leader, was in the St. Kate's video about grads in unusual occupations (public broadcasting out-reach programs to promote knowledge of social issues - children with disabilities, adoption etc.), and was elected to three 4-year terms on Mahtomedi City Council.

Mary published a story called "We are Not Alone" (page 278) in the best-selling book "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul" along with Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou. Continuing her commitment to the community, Mary served as Chair of the Parochial School Board. Never one to sit still, she traveled to China, Japan, India, Australia, Europe and Africa. She was a very busy woman who never seemed hurried...always had time for friends and family.

All the accolades and accomplishments aside, she was about family, character and English...got to have that grammar in place, or else! Each June for the last 16 years, Mary hosted her kids and their families at a resort in northern Minnesota for a weekend of lake activities. She worked to instill in the value of a strong family as a foundation in life. A family that plays together, stays together.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Lawrence Joseph Miller, sisters Valerie and Judy, parents Cecelia and Rudolph. Her sense of humor and enthusiasm for life will be deeply missed by her children John (Marilyn), Joseph (Yoshiko), Missy, Paul (Gabriella), Ann and Sarah (Peter); grandchildren David, Brian, Michael, Karen, Abigail, Emily, Bitsy, Lucy, Henry, Maddie, Dez and Dominic; and brother R. Joseph St. Anthony (Debbie).

A funeral celebration of Mary's long and rewarding life will take place Tuesday, December 19th at 11am (visitation 10am) at St. Jude of the Lake Catholic Church - 700 Mahtomedi Ave, Mahtomedi, MN 55115.

**As seen in the newspapers**

Mary Louise Miller (nee St. Anthony)
Age 92 of Mahtomedi

Passed away peacefully on December 2, 2023. Preceded in death by husband, Lawrence Joseph Miller. Survived by children, John, Joseph, Missy, Paul, Ann, & Sarah and 12 grandchildren.

Funeral Mass at 11am December 19th (visitation @ 10am) at St. Jude of the Lake Catholic Church, 700 Mahtomedi Ave. Mahtomedi, MN 55115.