Alvira J. Miller

Stoughton- Alvira J. Miller, age 97, died on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at the Stoughton Hospital.  She was born on August 27, 1911, in rural Union County, South Dakota, the daughter of Adolph and Josephine (Englund) Larson.  In the 1930's ""Al"" moved to Madison where she began working for Sears, Roebuck and Company.  For nearly 40 years she would continue to work for Sears in Wisconsin, Iowa and Oklahoma.  In 1948, she married Rex Miller and together they lived and worked in Hampton, Iowa and Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Al and Rex loved to travel and enjoyed pulling their travel trailer through each of the lower 48 states.  After retirement, they moved to Mount Ida, Arkansas.  Following Rex's death in 1994, Al moved to Stoughton to be closer to family.  Al was a long time member of the Methodist church and loved music.  Before declining health forced her to a pew, she rarely missed a Sunday singing with the other choir members of her church families.  Al credited her long life to her faith, her friends and her family.  All who knew her will miss her warmth, kindness, smiles and laughter.  Alvira's survivors include a brother, Adolph (Dorothy) Larson of Viborg, South Dakota; sister-in-law, Kathy Larson of Beresford, South Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Leonard Larson; and sisters, Margaret Hoyer and Helen Davis.  Memorial services will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, December 5, 2008 at Stoughton United Methodist Church, 535 Lincoln, Stoughton, with Rev. Dr. Lamarr V. Gibson officiating.  The family asks that memorials be donated in Alvira's name to her favorite charity, The Salvation Army.