MaDonna Miller

Madonna Louise Miller, age 103, died on Saturday, September 5, 2020. She was born November 16, 1916 to Elizabeth Greenfield Robertson and Fred Robertson in Des Moines, Iowa. From the age of seven she was raised by her mother, Elizabeth Robertson Short, and her step-father, Frank Levi Short. She called him “Pop”. Madonna graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of almost 50 years, R. Kenneth Miller, her daughter Shirley Kae (Kenneth) Johnson, and her sister Blossom Rose Barney.

Madonna and her husband Kenneth were partners in a grocery store, Miller’s Super Valu on Army Post Road, with Kenneth’s brother Gerald Miller. The store was built after the brothers returned home from World War II. Madonna worked at a bank during the time the store was being built. There was a fire, but the store was rebuilt. During that time Madonna returned to working at the bank. The store was sold in 1972.

Vacations were spent at the family cabin on Clearwater Lake, Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, Minnesota. Madonna loved the lake and swimming in the cool water. After 1964, these vacations became longer until Donna and Ken were spending the entire summer in the north-woods. Donna always said that when she returned to Des Moines, she could close her eyes and still see those beautiful waters.

Bridge was her passion. She played conversational bridge for most of her life. When Kenneth died in 1987, she had just started playing duplicate bridge at the Des Moines Bridge House. She continued playing until she was 87 years old. Donna also played golf and belonged to the Indianola Country Club. She bowled and was in several leagues. There were a group of lifelong friends, seven couples, who had dinner and played cards every month.

Madonna belonged to the Fort Des Moines Methodist Church. She was also a member of Southgate Order of the Eastern Star, where served as their Worthy Matron.

Survivors include her daughter Susan Rae (Donald) Schliep of Duluth, MN; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Ashley) Schliep of Duluth, Mark Schliep of Haslet, TX, Darci Johnson and Brett (Rhonna) Johnson of Des Moines, and Scott Johnson of Newton, Iowa; great-grandchildren Gaige, Teagan, and Haley Johnson of Des Moines and Justin, Josie, Lucas of Duluth, MN., and Dalton (Brooke) Johnson of Cincinnati, OH

Donna had 103 wonderful years of life. She will be missed by her family.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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