Obituary of Mildred "Millie" Elaine Mudge
On Tuesday August 17, 2021 Heaven welcomed another Angel when Mildred Elaine Mudge winged her way to heaven. Mildred, Millie to friends and mom, grandma and great grandma to the family was born on Valentine’s Day 1928 in Groton South Dakota to Bert and Mathilda Lee.
Millie spent her younger years on the family farm in Ashby Minnesota. During WWII the family relocated to Portland, Oregon so her dad could work in the shipyards and help the war effort. Millie graduated from Washington High School in Portland.
After high school the family returned to the farm in Minnesota and Millie worked for a year before enrolling in nursing school at St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen South Dakota. It was while at St. Luke’s that Millie met the love of her life, Stewart Mudge, when he came to visit his sister Salome who happened to be Millie’s roommate.
Millie and Stewart were married May 11, 1951 in Igloo, South Dakota. Four children were born to this union, Diana, Mike, Dan and Carita. The family moved to Edgemont in 1956 and eventually back to Portland in 1962. Mildred worked as an RN at Lutheran Hospital in Hot Springs SD, and continued her nursing career at Providence Hospital in Portland, OR, retiring in 1983.
Millie loved the beach, bingo bunco and most of all baseball, especially the Seattle Mariners. Sweet and gentle that she was, if you interrupted her baseball game she would not hesitate to shush you! Millie knew her baseball and the players! She could talk baseball with the best of them! Her love for baseball goes back to nursing school where she played on a women's softball team and later on the Lutheran church women's league in Edgemont South Dakota.
Millie loved her family and friends. If you were lucky enough to be her friend you knew you were loved. In addition to her family Millie loved to write, she wrote many poems and short stories. They will be treasured by her family.
Millie spent her final years at Courtyard Fountains Assisted Living where she enjoyed activities including arts & crafts, bingo, jewelry making and dressing up for special occasions. She leaves behind her many friends and staff members at Courtyard.
Millie was a long time member of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Portland, OR.
Millie is survived by her children, Diana Woodhead and husband Al, Mike Mudge and wife Marilyn, Dan Mudge and wife Sally, Carita Gilmore and husband Mark. She is also survived by Grandchildren, Frank Harris, Elaine Gunderson, Michelle Patterson, Jessica Huffman, Steven and Amanda Mudge, and 7 great grandchildren, 3 sister in laws, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Stewart Mudge, her parents, Bert and Mathilda Lee and her brother Milton Lee, and her best friend and sister from another mother, Florence Manley.
Memorial Services will be Saturday, September 25th 11:00 am at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 1700 NE 132nd Ave., Portland, OR. In Lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in Millie’s name.
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