Mildred Mapes

Mildred Ellen Mapes

January 25, 1922 ~ April 20, 2016

Our loving and beautiful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Mildred (Millie) Ellen Mapes, returned to her home in Heaven on an early spring morning. Mom was born on January 25, 1922 in Fargo, North Dakota to Nickolas and Ellen Miller. She had two brothers, Hank and Melvin and three sisters, Louella, Mary and Irene. Irene died at six months old, but was always in Mom’s heart.

She lived the first few years of her life in Fargo, but then moved with her family to Minnesota. After graduation, she enrolled in a beauty school in Minneapolis where she graduated with honors. It was during this time that she met and fell in love with our father, Edward L. Mapes, known by all as Bud. Shortly after, World War II broke out; Dad joined the Army and was transferred to a U.S. military base in Aransas Pass, Texas. Mom joined him a few months later and they were married on March 2, 1943.

Since Dad was a career soldier, serving in World War II and the Korean War, Mom became a military wife, following Dad throughout the United States, Germany, and the Panama Canal Zone and eventually retired in Utah. Together they had five children, Anita, Linda, Steve, Calvin and Caroline.

Although our roots were never deep during those years, Mom always saw to it that we had a beautiful home, lots of friends who became family, and she saw to it that we all ate very well with her wonderful meals. She was always trying out and creating new recipes. We surely will remember coming home after a day at work or school and the house filled with the aroma of fresh baked bread and cinnamon rolls. The floors were always freshly waxed and the house was clean, sometimes what we would think, to a fault. To her, cleanliness was next to Godliness.

Mom’s love affair with our Dad was always present even after he died in 1999. She talked about him all the time and couldn’t wait until she would see him again. How we would have loved to see that reunion Wednesday morning.

Mom was a devout Christian and loved the Lord. She said she prayed for each and every one of us every night and as she often reminded us, many times during the day. And she had many to pray for. By the time of her passing she had 14 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and even a few great-great-grandchildren. She was loved and she gave love unconditionally.

She is survived by her children, Anita (Ron, deceased) Kersey, Linda (Brent) Olsen, Steve, Calvin (Cathy), and Caroline (Greg) Costello, as well as all of her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, brothers and sisters, and a son-in-law, Ron Kersey.

The family would like to thank Olena, LeAnn and Janice from Inspiration Hospice for their wonderful care of our Mom. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2016 at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South. The family will meet with friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Clinton City Cemetery.