Orie Earl Mills

Orie Earl Mills
Obituary
November 25, 1927 – December 26, 2016
Orie E. Mills, age 89, of Benson, MN, died Monday, December 26, 2016 at Swift County Benson Health Services. 
Visitation will be from 5 – 7 p.m. Friday, December 30, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Benson.  Visitation will continue from 10 – 11 a.m., followed by the memorial service at 11 a.m., Saturday, December 31, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Interment will be in the Benson City Cemetery.  Arrangements are with Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson.
Orie Earl Mills was born on November 25, 1927 to Ross David and Ellen Victoria (Anderson) Mills in Benson, Minnesota.  He was baptized June 26, 1929 by Rev. E.J. Peterson and confirmed June 22, 1941 by Rev. Richard Johnson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Benson. He grew up in Benson, attending Dist. 52 & 41 and graduating from Benson High School.  Orie served his country in the United States Army from September 21, 1948 to September 20, 1951 during the Korean Conflict on overseas duty in England.  On April 25, 1953, Orie was united in marriage to Marilyn Elizabeth Lietz by Rev. J. G. Swedberg at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Together they were able to share in more than 63 years of marriage.
Through the years, Orie worked at the Co-op Creamery, as a farm laborer, at Red Owl, as a farmer, for Munson Seed Company, Hughes Aircraft, Benson Market, and as a carrier for the United States Post Office.  After retirement, he worked part-time for the City Parks Department and served 4 terms on the Cemetery Board and 2 terms each on the Planning Commission and Parks Board.   He was a member of the VFW Post # 1403, the American Legion, the Appleton Sportsmen’s Club, Cooties, and served as Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher, and as President of the Church Council at Trinity Lutheran.  Among the many things Orie enjoyed was hunting, fishing, woodworking, playing cards and dominoes – but most of all spending time with family and loved ones.
Orie passed away peacefully at the Swift County Benson Health Services on December 26, 2016, attaining the age of 89 years, 1 month, and 1 day.  He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Mills; children: Gary Mills of New York City, Gwenn Smeby of St. Paul Park, Dale (Tomoko) Mills of Pleasanton, CA, and Scott (Cindy) Mills of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren: Ross (Mindy) Smeby, Kenichi (Sayaka) Mills, Louis Smeby, Eric (Kia) Mills, and Lindsey (Max) Moore; great-grandchildren: Eva Smeby, Aiden Mills, and Jordan Mills; and brother, Marlin (Micki) Mills of Gillette, PA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ross and Ellen Mills; brothers, Donald and Arvin; sister, Roselle Johnson; daughter, Sherri; son, James; and granddaughter, Faustina.
Please sign the guestbook at:  www.zniewskifuneralhome.com