Mildred Eline Schenck

A funeral celebrating Mildred Schenck’s home-going will be held at the Milaca Evangelical Free Church on Saturday, September 15^th, 2018 at 3 PM. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca with a graveside service immediately following funeral services.

Mildred Eline (Sahlstrom) Schenck was born on July 3^rd, 1927.  Mildred was born at home in Borgholm Township, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, the sixth child of nine born to her parents, David and Julia (Johnson) Sahlstrom. She married Loren Dale Schenck on May 1^st, 1948 at the Evangelical Free Church in Milaca, Minnesota. Mildred passed away from this life on September 8th, 2018 at the age of 91 years, 2 months and 5 days.

Mildred (“Milly” to friends and family) grew up on small farms worked by her parents in the Milaca-Onamia, Minnesota area. She learned “real-life home economics” skills due to the realities of the Great Depression, including how to grow and preserve a productive family garden, cook delicious, nutritious meals from scratch, and just “make do”. Early in life, Milly learned to utilize her means efficiently in providing for herself and others, and she developed the character to do so in a generous and servant-like manner.

Following graduation from Onamia high school, Milly was immediately employed by the First National Bank in Milaca. She then worked for the University of Minnesota Extension/County Agent’s Office of Mille Lacs County.  After a long period at home raising her children, Milly returned to work part time in the office of the Farm/Home Administration. She then began her lengthy professional career at Elim Care-Milaca where she served in various roles within its Administrative office and Social Services until her retirement. All of Milly’s work – within or outside the home – demonstrated her life-long commitment to service for others.

Throughout her entire adult life, Milly was a committed Christian and dedicated servant in her church, the Evangelical Free Church in Milaca, MN. She served a role in virtually every area of outreach: Sunday School, choir, Bible School, Women’s Fellowship, Deaconess, Pioneer Girls, youth clubs and nursery, Bible Studies (Milaca and Dailey Township), hospitality committees, library. She was a prayer warrior. In retirement, Milly served on the Sunshine Committee of FCWM, visiting the ill or homebound and continued to do so even after the committee was officially disbanded. She was pleased to serve as a board member on the local Christian Women’s Club.  Milly was the chauffeur among her peers for decades, providing transportation for others to Club meetings, Bible Studies, visitation at Elim, etc. She considered her ability and availability a privilege and joy as she served her Lord and others.

Mildred lost her husband, Loren, in November of 1993. Loren had not quite reached his 67^thbirthday when he moved to his heavenly home, and Milly continued to miss him every day. Though they had been married for 45 years and shared only a few years of retirement together, she pressed on with purpose to create an abundant, fulfilling independent life. She centered herself as the foundation of her family. She felt happiness and accomplishment as she witnessed their four children building lives and raising her grandchildren, many of whom reflect her legacy of service through volunteerism and careers in education, law, medicine, ministry, social/human services and other areas of benefit to the greater community.  

Milly took some pride in being the longest lived – and the last surviving – child in her family. Longevity and health challenges greatly diminished her memory and level of independence in recent years, she continued to reach out in concern for others from her home. The committed efforts of her nearby daughter and other relatives permitted her to achieve her goal of remaining in the home she knew and had loved so well for sixty-six years.

Mildred was pre-deceased by her parents; her husband, Loren; her brothers Stanley, Howard, Harris, Kenneth and Lowell; her sisters Edith, Beatrice and Shirley; her sisters-in-law Ludmilla (Stanley), Mary Lou (Howard), Nelda (Harris); her brothers-in-law Emil (Beatrice) Swanson and Robert (Edith) Upcraft. She is survived by her children Douglas (Patricia) of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Reverend Philip (Carol) of New Ulm, Candace of Milaca and Carolyn of Big Lake; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a multitude of cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

A special thanks from Milly’s family to the Fairview Hospice staff for their caring support in Milly’s last days. Thanks to friends and family members who have supported Milly and her family in prayer and in other tangible ways for some time. Thanks to her cousin, Peter Sahlstrom, for transporting and accompanying her so many places in recent years. And a very special thanks to Milly’s daughter, Candace, for her committed role as caregiver which permitted our mom to have the best possible quality of life in the only place she desired to be – her own home - until the Lord returned or called her Home.

Memorials received will be channeled toward the advancement of the Lord’s work through the ministry of InFaith, an American Mission outreach.