MONICA MILLER obituary

CHINOOK - Monica Miller, 98, longtime resident of Chinook, died Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, of natural causes at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre.

A funeral service will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Chinook.

Monica was born on July 4, 1907, in Tomah, Wis., to the late Hugh and Maude (Gordon) Mathers. Monica came to Montana at the age of 14 to join her parents at the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, and remained there until she graduated from Harlem High School. She attended college in Dillon for one year, then taught school in a one-room school house north of Harlem.

In 1926, she married Grant Bowerman. They had a son, Harold, and a daughter, Donna. Monica and Grant opened Independent Food Store, which she continued to run for some time after Grant's passing in 1941.

In 1945, she married Louis Miller. They had a daughter, Mary Lou.

She was appointed the first elected female clerk of court in Blaine County in 1959, and held that position until she retired in January 1973. She then worked as a secretary for the Mental Health Center in Chinook for five years.

Monica was very active in her community. She belonged to the VFW since 1946, was a member of the Eastern Star and was a passionate master bridge player.

Survivors include her daughter, Mary Lou (Bill) Graham; adopted daughter, Penny Mathers Miller (Gary) Hadford; three grandsons; four granddaughters; and three great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.