Berneal Marie "Bee" (Kettner) Miller

Berneal Marie "Bee" (Kettner) Miller, 84, of Topeka, KS, went to her heavenly home on January 29, 2017. The 5th of 7 children, she was born on June 19, 1932, in Atchison, KS, to George and Clara Kettner. She is survived by her husband, Harold E. Miller; five children, Chip E. Miller (Daffodil), Kim Miller, Pam Sill (Steve), Sandy Hardesty (Steve), and Mark Miller (Jessica); five grandchildren, Quentin, Jade, Dakota, Blake and Raegan; brother, Melvin Kettner; and sister, Carol Bailey (Bev).

Smart as a whip, Bee was class salutatorian at Hutchinson Junior College and married Harold Miller on September 21, 1952. She was actively involved in family life—her children were the center of her world. She closely attended to their education, hobbies and marriages. She was a den mother in Cub Scouts, a fund raiser in Boy Scouts, and cheerleader for everything her children and husband were involved in. Bee was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran church and added her wonderful singing voice to the church choir.

Her life-long passions were Tupperware and La Leche League. Bee was a top 25 salesperson in the U.S. for Tupperware and a very successful manager. In addition, she was a tireless devotee of the La Leche League, founding a local chapter, conducting workshops and serving as a consultant for other women. She could always be found with a romance novel or cheering on her KU Jayhawks.

Bee was an outgoing, helpful woman who always had a kind word for everyone and who kept close ties with three generations of a far-flung family network. She was cheerful, kind, giving, and supportive. One of her in-laws described her aptly as "a saint." A deeply religious woman and daughter of a Lutheran pastor, an appropriate parting phrase for her would be "I'm but a stranger here, heaven is my home." She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

The viewing will be from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, 2017, at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 6, 2017, at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 901 SW Fillmore Street, Topeka, KS 66606. The family will greet friends during a viewing an hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow the service at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery, Topeka, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Building Fund.

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