Harriet Dettwiler Miller

Harriet’s life began on March 16, 1933, the daughter of Elden and Edith (Shaw) Ellyson in Panama City, Florida. At nine years of age she and her family moved to Iowa where she graduated from Washington High School Class of 1951. Harriet received her Bachelor’s degree from Bethel College in Newton in Home Economics. She married Edwin Dettwiler in 1953, and they moved to Hesston, Kansas until his passing in 1964. She married Marvin Miller in 1982 in El Dorado. He preceded her in 2014. She taught Adult Education at Butler County Community College until she retired in 1991.

Harriet was a member of First Baptist Church and Sarah Circle in El Dorado and the Alzheimer’s Association Chapter also in El Dorado. She loved to travel, read, cross stitch, sew, knitted clothing and kept diaries for years.

Her loving family includes her son and his wife, Steven and Marlene Dettwiler of Andover; daughter and her husband, Susan and Steve Edwards of El Dorado; stepchildren, Janet (Stanley) Cox of Leon, Kansas, Debbie (Marvin) Daniels of El Dorado and Virgil Miller (Michael Van Eimesen) of Whitewater, Wisconsin; sister, Eleanor Lewis of Collegedale, Tennessee; 11 grandchildren, Dawn Thomas, Jill (Aaron) Butcher, Andrew Dettwiler, Hannah Fitzwater and Chad Fitzwater, Sarah (Mike) Brogdin, Emily (Tyson) Brenton, Molly Cox, Bryan (Carrie) Daniels, Stephanie Daniels, Angie (John) Walker; 19 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two spouses; two brothers and two sisters. Harriet passed away Sunday, February 24, 2019, having reached the age of 85 years old.

Her family will gather with friends on Wednesday, February 27, from 5-7 p.m. at Carlson Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, February 28, at 3:00 p.m. at Walnut Valley Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association in El Dorado or Susan B. Allen Cancer Center or Sarah Circle at First Baptist Church. Please sign her online guest book and leave a memory of Harriet at www.kirbymorrisfuneralhome.com

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