Mary Lou ‘Midge’ Mills, 92, of Brookings, met her Lord and Savior, on Thursday, July 2, 2020, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview. A celebration of her life will be held at 12:00 pm Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at GracePoint Wesleyan Church, in Brookings. A time of visiting and reminiscing will be held following the Celebration service. The service will be live streamed through the Rude’s Funeral Home Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Samaritan’s Purse or Teen Challenge of the Dakotas.
Mary Lou ‘Midge’ Larrabee was born in Graceville, MN, on Nov. 27, 1927, to Howard and Lucy (Cooper) Larrabee. As a child, Midge’s family lived in various communities in eastern South Dakota, following her father’s sales career. She graduated from Brookings High School. Midge met the love of her life, Harvey Mills, at Danceland on Lake Campbell. They were married on Sept. 12, 1948, in Brookings, SD, at First Presbyterian Church. She devoted her life to supporting Harvey in Business and raising their family.
Midge touched countless lives through starting CARE group at the Methodist Church, being active in Christian Women’s Club and Friendship Bible Coffees, golfing with friends at the Brookings Country Club, monthly bridge club and sharing her gift of hospitality with numerous friends and relatives at gatherings and meals at their Lake Campbell home. Harvey and Midge always looked forward to their trips with their AGC contractor friends over the years. She treasured her fun-loving Larrabee brothers and sisters. She and Harvey spent many winters after retirement enjoying biking and friends in Naples, FL.
Midge lived her faith daily and shared openly to all her love for Jesus! She memorized many scriptures and was always ready to share God’s word that she held in her heart. Midge was a tremendous prayer warrior throughout her life on behalf of her friends, family and even people she had just met.
Grateful for having shared her life, is her husband, Harvey Mills, of Brookings, SD; three children, Sally Ann (James) Odenbach of Eureka, SD, John Harvey (Joy) Mills of Volga, SD, Mary Jo (David) Minor of Brookings, SD, 12 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren and many special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Richard Damione Mills; four brothers, Dean Robert, Clifford, Milton and Leon Larrabee; three sisters, Betty Huffman, Sybil Scheffer and Margie Barr.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
