Eldora “Dorie” Neumann Miller passed away peacefully on November 28, 2025, her 91st birthday, at the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Howard Lake, MN.
Dorie was born on November 28, 1934, at home in southeast Winsted, MN, to Clemens and Clara (Hoffmann) Neumann. She was the youngest of 7 children.
She attended Holy Trinity Catholic Schools and graduated in 1952. She was introduced to her future husband Wilton “Will” Miller at a dance at Sherman Station by their mutual friends, Mae and Norb Stifter. Dorie and Will married on October 28, 1960, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina, MN. To this union six children were born. Joe, Julie, Ann, Donna, Alan and Ruth.
Dorie was a proud farmer’s daughter, wife and Mom. She could do anything on the farm. Milk cows, drive a tractor, pick rock, pull volunteer corn, unload and stack hay. While doing all this she also attended to her huge vegetable and flower gardens, cooked hearty meals, baked a dessert every day and still had time to read a book to one of her kids, play a board game or get a game of kickball going in the neighborhood.
Dorie was a devout Catholic. She prayed the rosary, went to mass weekly, taught CCD, was a lector in church and communion minister.
In the fall of 1984, Dorie became a para-professional at the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted elementary school and finished out at the high school, retiring at the age of 82. Dorie loved and was great with all kids, from infants through teenagers.
Dorie moved off the farm in the fall of 2019 to The Lodge Assisted Living in Howard Lake. She lived there for two years and then due to a fall, she moved into the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Howard Lake in January of 2022. She took the move with grace and dignity and made Good Samaritan her home. She loved the staff and the residents and they loved her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Will and her son, Joe. Her parents, Clemens and Clara Neumann, her siblings and their spouses Sophia and Leo Karels, Monica and EJ Fasching, Paul and Elaine Neumann, Marcy and Eddie Olk and Kelly and Pete Hess.
She leaves to mourn her passing her children, Julie McSweeney (Terry Alverez) of Plymouth, MN, Ann Sheahan (Randy) of De Pere, WI, Donna Brezinka (Tony Austinson) of Maple Grove, MN, Alan Miller of Howard Lake, and Ruth Oestreich (Dave) of Howard Lake.
She is further survived by her six grandchildren, Jessica Tack of Austin, TX, Lindsay McSweeney of Plymouth, MN, Caitlin Leggitt (Kyle) of Dayton, MN, Madison Canizales (John) of Maplewood, MN, Mackenzie Brezinka of Chicago, IL, and Drew Oestreich of Lakeville, MN: and her great grandchildren, River and Noah Leggitt and her brother Robert of Fargo, ND, and many nieces and nephews and bonus son, Dan Higgins.
Many people touched Dorie’s life, but especially, our family friend, Michelle Hofer. Michelle was not only Dorie’s hairstylist, but her confidant and amazing friend. Mom loved her weekly visits with Michelle and the Miller family could never thank her enough for everything.
A special thank you to the staff of Good Samaritan Society in Howard Lake and to Triniti Hospice for their outstanding care, compassion and love.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025. Visitation from 9 am to 10:45 am with mass to follow at 11 am all at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly, MN.