Betty “Darlene” Miller, 83 of LaVista, NE and formerly of Ashland and Plattsmouth, died Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the Papillion Manor in Papillion. She was born September 20, 1931 in Omaha, NE to Bruce and Myrtle (Henry) Sowards of Ashland. Darlene graduated from Ashland High School and worked for the Ordinance Plant in Mead after graduation. At the plant, she met her husband Donald I. Miller who she married in 1949.

After “Darlene” and Donald were married, they moved to her parents of Myrtle and Bruce Sowards on their farm in rural south Ashland with first son Steve and later second son Thomas born in 1954. An opportunity of employment for Donald at Allied Chemical near LaPlatte,NE. gave them the opportunity to move to Plattsmouth. They joined the First Presbyterian Church in 1954, and she joined the choir, where her soprano voice earned many accolades over the years.

While raising their two sons and helping a small business of mowing grass in the early 60’s with son – Steve. She always made time to visit with neighbors and friends/family and one time sold cosmetics and Tupperware home shows. In 1965 she started at Western Electric on the “graveyard shift” as a cable tester. Later the company became AT&T where she was employed for over 25 years. While employed, she donated blood, was a “WEOMA” representative for the cable shop. She really enjoyed greeting people as they came to work, and distributed newsletters to employees entering for work.
Her husband of 25+ years, Donald (Don) passed away in 1988. Following her retirement from AT&T in 1991, she assisted her oldest son with his wedding photography business as the Studio Manager until 2004.

Darlene loved music, playing piano and singing in the church choir …, which she did at Ashland’s Congregational Church for many years with her mother (Myrtle). Her participation with PHS Band Parents, PTA’s and many school activities at her children’s grade and high schools, along with assisting in many farm type auction sales in the 60’s and assisting with her late husbands Farm Implement business in Ashland in the 80’s. She enjoyed watching her husband’s fast pitch softball games and excelled in couples events such as bowling, playing cards and many other activities and also sang for funeral and weddings in her later years.

She always enjoyed cats and a many farm dogs (an experience from farm life) and even a b&w stripped version found in early childhood on the farm.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Omaha and a past member of the First Presbyterian Church in Plattsmouth and the First Congregational Church in Ashland.

Survived by her sons, Stephen Miller of Omaha and Thomas Miller of Omaha; many other family members and friends; and her last kitty she named “Mikey”.