Judith Louise Miller's Obituary
JUDITH -Å"LOUISE- [THOMPSON] MILLER
Judith Louise [Thomassen] was born on December 2, 1920 in Sandnes, Norway. Louise passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 in Tacoma, Washington. Her celebration of life will be held Wednesday, June 2, 2008 at 2:00 pm in the Garden Chapel at Mountain View Memorial Park. Viewing will be at the Mountain View Funeral Home on Tuesday, from 1:00 to 9:00 pm. Memorials may be made to your favorite charity. Arrangements are made by Mountain View Funeral Home, Memorial Park and Crematory, 253-584-0252.
Louise left Norway in 1925 with her mother Ellen, brother Ingwald, grandmother Bertine, uncle Aage, and aunts Berta and Aasta for Tacoma, Washington. They joined Louise's father Peter Thompson, grandfather Ingvald Nilsen, and two aunts Agnes and Ingrid, who had come to Tacoma in 1923 & 1924. Her grandfather had purchased a home on South G Street, so they could all be together
They took a ship from Norway to Nova Scotia and then by train on to Tacoma, WA. Louise was the oldest of her siblings. She had three brothers: Ingwald Thompson [1924], and twin brothers, Harry and Harold Thompson [1927]. Her mother, Ellen [Nilsen] Thompson had two other sets of male twins who died at birth. One set of twins who died at birth in 1922, and another set that she lost in about 1939 by miscarriage. Her mother died in March 1981. Her father, Peder Thomassen, who had changed his name to Peter Thompson when coming to America, so he could be more American, worked dredging the Tacoma Waterways, and later worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad. In June of 1940, her father died. In August of 1940 Louise married Conrad -Å"Cooney- Miller, of German decent, but born in Russia. Cooney worked for NW chair for many years. They were married until July 1989 [49 years] when Cooney died. They had no children, but her nieces and nephews were her children and she loved them very much!
Louise was confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church in Tacoma and taught Sunday school in the Lutheran Church where her husband and she belonged in their younger years. Later although not attending all the time, she enjoyed going to church when she did. She believed strongly in God. She knew most all of the prayers, and songs in the church. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1939. Louise worked in the offices of Gilbo Moving & Storage, Sanders Moving & Storage and other moving companies. She was a very good typist and excellent in spelling. She loved to cook, do crossword puzzles, sing the old songs, and to be with her family and friends. She was very kind and generous to everyone she met. Louise has always been a staunch Democrat and very patriotic.
Louise was preceded in death by her special love and husband, Conrad Miller, her parents Peter and Ellen [Nilsen] Thompson, and her brother Ingwald [Ingvald] Thompson. She is survived by her twin brothers, Harry and Harold [Thora] Thompson, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends here, and in Norway and Iceland, who loved her so much and will miss her greatly.
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