Obituary of Mildred M. Gausman

Age 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 30, 2016. Preceded in death by husband, Earl; and brother, Charles. Survived by daughters, April Gayle Gausman, Marianne (Jerry) Benson, Betty (Bill) Elkington, Barb (Roger) Strobel; grandsons, Andy, John, Will, Ben. Born in 1926, Millie grew up in Winona, MN during the depression years. After receiving a scholarship, she earned an undergraduate degree in Math, Physics, and Chemistry from Hamline University in 1947. There she forged lifelong bonds with friends called “the Dirty Dozen". In 1947 Millie married her husband of 64 years, who was introduced by her Hamline roommate, who happened to be Earl’s cousin. They farmed near Alberta, MN where they had 3 daughters, and she taught at Morris High School. In 1959 she was awarded a National Science Foundation fellowship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. There she earned a MS degree in Mathematics, and also gave birth to her fourth daughter. She then taught at the newly established University of Minnesota, Morris, where she helped to establish the math department. In 1963 the family moved to Plymouth, Wisconsin, where she taught high school math and chaired the math department. Throughout her life, Millie was a volunteer in numerous community and church organizations. She was a lifelong gardener, with a recent interest in growing orchids. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, role-model, teacher and mentor. We were blessed to have had her in our lives. Memorial Service 11:00am, Thursday, July 7, ARLINGTON HILLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 759 E Co Rd B, Maplewood. Visitation one hour prior to service. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery, Winona, MN.