Magdalen Miller

Magdalen Antoinette [Ardolf] Miller, 91, of Silver Lake, left this world peacefully, surrounded by nieces and nephews on Tuesday, January 20, 2014, at Cedar Crest in Silver Lake, Minnesota. A mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, January 26, at the Church of The Holy Family in Silver Lake with Father Paul Shumacher, Father Tony Stubeda and Father Paul Ardolf officiating.

Alice Nowak was the organist with The Holy Family choir leading the songs. Musical selections included, “On Eagles Wings”, “Amazing Grace”, “Be Not Afraid”, “Here I Am Lord”.

Pallbearers were Scott Ardolf, Bruce Ardolf, Donald Humlicek, Jeff Mallak, Seth Schuette and Ron Pulkrabek. Gift bearers were Karen Kranz, Julie Mallak, and Ann Boyer.

Internment was at the Holy Family Cemetery at Silver Lake.

Magdalen “Mag” [Ardolf] Miller was born on October 21, 1923 on her parent’s farm, the daughter of  Albert Sr. and Josephine [Posusta] Ardolf.  Magdalen attended District 51 country school, St. Joseph’s Catholic School, graduated from Silver Lake High School and after 1 year of Teachers Training School, at the age of 18, started teaching in several different country schools. She taught in Lester Prairie for 1 year, Hutchinson for 5 years and in Edina for 29 years.   Her education included going to St. Cloud State during the summers and evenings to obtain an Associate Degree in Education in 1949 and a   Bachelor of Science Degree in 1954.  She received her Master of Arts Degree at the University of Minnesota in 1958 and a Library of Science Degree and an Audio Visual Degree from Augsburg College in 1972.  She retired in 1985.

During her country school teaching some of the 20 students from grade 1 to 8 were only 1 year younger   and some were taller than her. She was required to start the fire, have clean drinking water, sweep the floors, act as a nurse, supervise recesses, prepare lessons for 8 grades, make sure the outhouses were clean and have a little potty in the clock room for the little kids. She drove to school in her 1935 Ford Coupe with bald tires.

On August 11, 1979, Magdalen and Marvin Miller were married at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Silver Lake. They were a loving couple who loved people and loved and enjoyed each other’s company. They traveled to many foreign countries and took many cruises. Marvin passed away on December 31, 2000 after only 20 years of happy marriage.

Magdalen enjoyed teaching and had many good times with her teacher friends in Edina. They enjoyed spending time with their neighbors, their relation, nieces and nephews and were always ready to help anyone in need. She loved the special attention all the Cedar Crest staff gave to her. They were all so very caring, concerned and friendly. During her time at Cedar Crest she spent many hours embroidering many dish towels to be given away to her relation. She made many new friends at Cedar Crest, making them laugh at her dry wit of humor. Magdalen’s many interests were education, traveling, camping, sewing, embroidering, eating out, attending parties with relatives and teacher friends and shopping.  She especially loved playing with and watching her little nieces and nephews play. She always encouraged her young relation to further their education.

Magdalen is survived by her brother Albert Ardolf Jr. and sister-in-law Mary Jo Ardolf. Nieces; Eileen [Urban] [Ron] Pulkrabek, Marilyn [Urban] [Bob] Schuette, Jean [Ardolf] [Ron] Penas, Karen [Ardolf] [Jeff] Krantz, Julie [Ardolf] [Jeff] Mallak, Ann [Ardolf] [Mike] Boyer. Nephews; Bruce Ardolf, Scott [Shauna] Ardolf, Donald [Sharon] Humlicek, Richard [Christine] Annis and Ron [Marilyn] Urban and many great  grand and great, great grand nieces and nephews.

Magdalen was preceded in death by her parents Albert Sr. and Josephine Ardolf; sister Helen [Merrill] Annis; brother Francis [Evelyn] Ardolf; sister Myrtle [Rudolph] Urban; sister Alice [George] Humlicek.

Arrangements were made by the Maresh Funeral Home in Silver Lake, Minnesota.  

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