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Miller, Rovona M.
Rovona M. Miller, 85, of Wellman, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013, at Parkview Manor following a brief illness. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. at Sharon Center United Methodist Church in rural Kalona, with Pastor Doug Cue officiating. Burial will follow at Sharon Hill Cemetery in Kalona. Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church. For a detailed map to the church go to www.sharoncenterum.org.
A memorial fund has been established for the Sharon Center United Methodist Church.
Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona is handling arrangements.
Rovona Marie (Steele) Miller was born March 3, 1928, near Washington, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Lola (Swails) Steele. She graduated from Columbus Junction High School in 1946 and attended Iowa Wesleyan College that summer. In the fall of that year she began teaching in a one room school house. On June 1, 1950, she was united in marriage to Orval L. Miller at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, and she continued teaching until the twins were born. In 1961, the family moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where Rovona taught three-year-olds at Paradise Valley Day School. After returning to Iowa, Rovona and Orval worked the family farm and Rovona was a busy farmer's wife and mother.
Rovona sold Home Interior products, worked at Owens Brush and later at the University of Iowa Business Office for 17 years before retirement. Rovona was a member of the Sharon Center United Methodist Church, the Cowbells, and was a past president and vice president of the Johnson County Farm Bureau. Family was always important to Rovona and she enjoyed taking pictures and attending anything involving her family.
Survivors include four children, Eldon Miller of Kalona, Sheldon Miller of Colorado Springs, Colo., Maureen (Richard) Clark of Warrensburg, Mo., and Lionel (Deb) Miller of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren, Daniel, Jason and Amanda; one brother, Darris Steele of Phoenix; and two sisters, Roberta Parks of Iowa City and Maralee (John) Dyson of Iowa City.
Preceding Rovona in death were her parents and her husband. Orval on March 31, 2013.
Published Sept. 5, 2013 in The Gazette
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