Mildred (Hotchkiss) Miller

Mildred Hotchkiss Miller of Albuquerque passed August 26 in Albuquerque. She was 91 years old. Millie was a dedicated community volunteer in every Land of Enchantment community in which she resided, being active in church and community activities in Los Alamos, Anthony, Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Millie was born October 14, 1926 to James and Naomi Hotchkiss in Keokuk County, Iowa, the youngest of four children on a farm. The Hotchkiss family had moved to America in 1642, long before moving westward to the heartland. After losing both of her parents early in life, she was raised by an aunt and uncle who moved during the Great Depression to Greeley, CO. Millie attended public school in Greeley and graduated from Greeley High School in 1943. She went on to spend part of a year in Burbank , CA working in the war industry. She later attended the University of Iowa for a semester then returned to Greeley to work as the Director of Women’s programs for KFKA radio. There, in fall 1946 she began dating returning WWII veteran and former classmate, Jimmy Miller. The two married on March 15, 1947 in Greeley. Millie eventually had four children. The family moved up and down the Rocky Mountains, living in Montana, Colorado and starting in 1954, New Mexico. She would spend the remainder of her life in the Land of Enchantment.

Millie gave much of her life to her family and to the cause of volunteerism. She volunteered to work elections, took food and clothing to needy families in the Mesilla Valley and gave time to the Houchen Community Center and Newark Maternity Hospital in the Segundo Barrio of south El Paso. In Albuquerque in the early 70s, she served as Department Secretary for the UNM Geology Department. Later, in Santa Fe, Millie served for several years as Secretary to the Senate Education Committee in the NM Legislature, worked for the Santa Fe law firm of Campbell – Black and the New Mexico School Administrators association, and established a small bookkeeping business to assist elderly clients. Millie volunteered for numerous central and northern New Mexico organizations including the League of Women Voters, La Familia, the Santa Fe Public Library, Presbyterian Medical Services and Presbyterian Healthcare Services. She provided countless volunteer hours assisting husband Jim with the Santa Fe Public Schools and Santa Fe Community College. Later, Millie did volunteer work for Roadrunner Food Bank, and particularly, the Rio Grande Nature Center, raising funds for children’s tours. She was a long-time role model for many including her children, grandchildren and great grandchild. Millie had several personal interests. She was an avid knitter, spending many years knitting caps for new-born babies and homeless adults in Albuquerque. She loved natural landscaping and gardening, enjoyed walking in the outdoors, and was a Master Gardner. She enjoyed attending the New Mexico State Fair each September. Millie was preceded in death by her husband Jim; her parents; the aunt and uncle who raised her; brothers, Gale and Robert; sister, Lois and cousin Eudora.

Her children include Jim Miller and spouse Nancy, of Alto, NM; Susan Lester of Albuquerque; Linda Miller of Albuquerque; Amy Miller and spouse Cliff McNary of Albuquerque. Grandchildren include Shannon Miller, Heather Roberts and spouse Dylan, Holly Krivokapich and spouse Katie, Brent Krivokapich, Kiera McNary, Thailen McNary, Kavi Miller, Zunyi Miller and one great granddaughter, Mikayla Roberts. Millie is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to the Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center, 2901 Candelaria Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107.

A Memorial service will be held on Friday, September 21, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2801 Lomas Blvd. NE. Albuquerque, NM.