Obituary of Marie Miller
Marie Miller (96) longtime St. Maries, ID resident passed away on September 8, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on October 3, 1926 to Maria Wallner and Franz Inselkammer in Kainbach Bei Aschau, Germany, a small town in Southern Bavaria. She attended grade school there until the age of 10. She then moved to Grainau near Garmisch where she finished grade school and went onto high school, graduating from the Lizeum.
Marie helped her mother in their family restaurant during the war as her stepfather was drafted into the military. In 1944 she attended college in Munich and worked at the hospital there. Because of the heavy bombing of the city, she was unable to finish her schooling there. After the war in 1945, Marie met St. Maries, ID resident Floyd Miller where he was part of the occupation troops in Garmisch. They married in 1950 and came to the United States on the ocean liner S.S. Atlantic, leaving from Italy and arriving in New York city.
When the couple arrived in St. Maries, they moved to Tekoa, WA where Marie worked at the Pea House as a seasonal worker sorting peas. It was Tekoa where they became the best of friends with Lyle and Betty Durant. After 2 years in Tekoa, Floyd and Marie returned to St. Maries where they made their permanent home and had 2 children, Butch and Claudia. As her children were growing up, she was very active with Cub Scouts, Camp Fire and Little League. In 1963 Marie started distributing the Spokesman Review, a route she held for 4 years. She then worked at Builders Supply for a year before she went to work for Dr. W.D. Thurston in 1968 at the St. Joe Valley Clinic serving as an office nurse for over 35 years.
In Marie’s younger days, she enjoyed skiing, playing golf, and knitting. She was active with the St. Maries Mother’s Club, JC Ettes, and her church, the Community Presbyterian Church. Marie found joy in having her family over and made sure to make all holidays special. Cooking and baking were a love language, and her specialties were cinnamon rolls and twisties. Several members of the St. Maries community would look forward to her delicious treats. She often showed appreciation by baking her goodies as a thank you. She kept a beautiful and immaculate home on the inside and out, she had beautiful flowers and landscaping and coordinated perfectly with her home.
Marie is survived by her children Floyd “Butch” (Tamara) Miller of LaQuinta, CA and Claudia (Ed) Spooner of St. Maries, ID; grandchildren Jim (Christina) Spooner, Tony (Kelli) Spooner, and DJ (Melissa) Miller; great grandchildren Emmah Spooner, Carter Miller, Dimercia Spooner, Felly Spooner, Cace Spooner, and Harley Spooner; and her caregiver Jessica Lockridge whom she adored. She is preceded in death by her parents George and Maria Winkelhofer and Franz Inselkammar.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 - 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm at Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries. A funeral service will be on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Community Presbyterian Church. Graveside services will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries with a gathering of family and friends to share a meal back at the church after all services. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave, Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83815.
