1932 – 2025

Doris Grace Mandsager Miller, age 93, of Livermore, CO passed away Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Doris Grace Mandsager was born February 24, 1932 in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, the daughter of Rev. Melvin Olaf Mandsager and Clara Caroline Hagen Mandsager. She was baptized by her uncle, Rev. Melvin Hagen on March 29 at Middle Coon Valley Church, Chaseburg, WI.

Grace attended kindergarten in Westby, WI while living with her Uncle Joel and Aunt Martha Hagen. First and second grade were in Eagle Grove, Iowa while living with her father and grandfather, Lars Mikkelson Mandsager, her father’s twin brother, Uncle Jacob, and her two younger brothers, Milan Clarence and Monrad Vern. Her father rented his father’s farm near Thor where the children attended Norway #3, the same country school where their father and their nine aunts and uncles had gone and were taught in Norwegian. The summer before seventh grade the family moved to a farm their dad bought near Hardy, IA and the kids went to Grove #6 country school.

The freshman year of high school was in Renwick but with redistricting she had to attend Humboldt High School where she graduated in 1950. Eagle Grove Junior College was 17 miles from the farm, driving back and forth for two years. She earned an Iowa Teachers Certificate in 1953. It was there she eyed Bob Miller, having lockers next to one another. One icy morning Doris was running late after oversleeping and skid across the icy road into a ditch. Lo and behold, she got out and saw Bob headed her direction. He stopped, got out to help, and immediately fell in the middle of the road, much to Doris’ amusement. They married on August 7, 1955.

As they were poor and both lost their mother early on, they missed the nurturing and daily care that mom’s bring, and there were many chores to be done morning and night, including milking cows, cooking, and cleaning the barn, yet they found time to play tag on the windmill and the barn roof among other mischief. Much of her life centered around teaching and her love for children. She began teaching in Lehigh, Iowa 1952 at age 20, starting with 3rd grade, then at Humboldt School District 1st grade, 1953, and Circle Pine School District 2nd grade, MN 1956-1960, while Bob completed his degree at St. Olaf in Northfield and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Thereafter, when Bob was called to intern in Pasadena, they moved to California and Doris taught 1st grade at Covina School District for a year.

That was the beginning of her lifetime teaching career. Then having children; Tedd Anthony Miller 1/31/61, Darrell Dwayne Miller 12/15/60, and Diane Louise Miller 10/4/65; she began to be the mother of many, filling that nurture and sharing God’s love and joy with all. For fifteen years following, she raised her children while substitute teaching, and they had many foster children as well, some who have had lifetime relationships. Sunday school was also central throughout their ministry. It was all about the children feeling loved and having fun. She would take the church van into the barrio and they’d pick up kids for Sunday School class. She also volunteered at the Women’s Transitional Living Center. In 1979 she began full-time bilingual education, Spanish and English, for grades 2-3 in Norwalk-La Mirada, Pico Rivera and Montebello school districts where she taught upwards of 20 years until retiring in 1998. From 1970-1983 she had continued her education and completed her B.A. at Cal State San Bernadino and bilingual studies at Cal State University Fullerton.

Doris and Bob retired and built their dream home in the Colorado mountains, where she has entertained family, old friends and new friends for about 28 years. She absolutely loved living here in Livermore and vowed to stay all her life, which she did. She was actively involved in many groups and regularly attended Book Club, Writers Group, and Mountain Gals, as well as Historical Society and others. Doris taught piano lessons on the mountain, enjoyed scrapbooking, taking pictures to mark every occasion, genealogy and gardening. She loved her Norwegian roots, her Norwegian cousins, and attending family reunions in Minnesota and Sons of Norway smorgasbords. She also loved to travel, recently taking road trip with relatives to see Cripple Creek and Colorado in during the fall. Doris had countless ventures throughout her life and was always up for the next one. She loved life, people, God and His never-ending grace and gifts, and sharing them with others.

Doris Grace Miller was preceded in death by her life-long husband, Robert L. Miller, her parents Melvin Mandsager and Clara Hagen, and brothers Milan Mandsager and Monrad (Karin) Mandsager. She’s survived by her sons, Tedd Miller and Darrell Miller, daughter Diane (Joseph) Magallanes, and grandchildren, Andrew Magallanes and Michaela Magallanes.

She requested donations from her memorial be sent to Childvoice International at Ways to Donate — ChildVoice and ELCA World Hunger ELCA World Hunger https://www.elca.org/our-work/relief-and-development/elca-world-hunger