Clara Helmuth Miller, 92, went peacefully home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at Mennonite Friendship Communities, South Hutchinson, KS. She was born on April 20, 1931, near Hutchinson, KS, the fourth of ten children, to John and Fannie (Bontrager) Helmuth.
On April 16, 1950, she was united in marriage to Ira Miller in rural Hutchinson, KS. They shared 60 years of marriage until Ira‘s death on October 14, 2010. Soon after beginning their family, they moved to Mountain View, AR, to assist in a church plant. In February 1958, they moved their family to Iowa City, IA to help Grandpa Miller with his dairy farm. After the dairy farm was sold in 1964, they moved their family back to the Hutchinson area.
Clara realized the need to teach children the way of salvation, so in the 1970’s she began a Busy Bee Bible Club in her home for elementary age children. She also taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for a number of years. Clara was a member of Plainview Mennonite Church, Hutchinson, KS.
Her favorite hobby was making quilts. Clara made a quilt for each child, grandchild, and great-grandchild. She made a variety of quilts, whole cloth, appliqué, pieced or embroidered. Clara enjoyed her sewing circle as long as her eyesight allowed.
Clara is survived by: her children, Doris (Gary) Stutzman of Park City, KS, Rita (Merle) Nisly of Red Lake, Ontario, Howard (Carolyn) Miller of Newport News, VA, and Kathleen (Duane) Yoder of Hutchinson, KS; daughter-in-law, Carrie Miller of Santa Fe, NM; grandchildren, Travis (Misty) Stutzman of Sedgwick, KS, Tricia (Kyle) Holder of Pleasant Prairie, WI, Candace (Alex) Carpenter of Rio Rancho, NM, Elliott Miller of Albuquerque, NM, Rhonda (Matthew) Slaubaugh of Neebring, Ontario, Robyn (Daryl) Schantz of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Karla (Kirk) Kauffman of Columbus, OH, Kim (José) Arauz of Minnetonka, MN, Hannah (Joey Staub) Miller of Philomath, OR, Josh (fiancée Nkuli Shongwe) Miller of Minneapolis, MN, Brad (Summer Steeples) Yoder of Valley Center, KS, Kelly (Kelcy) Voth of Kansas City, MO, and Greg (Jessie) Yoder of South Hutchinson; great-grandchildren, Wesley Stutzman, Emeri Stutzman, Cate Holder, Val Holder, Livi Holder, Caitlyn (Alex) Whent, Aimee Slaubaugh, Sierra Slaubaugh, Larissa Slaubaugh, Anna-Christina (Jesse) Monkman, Olivia Schantz, Adrienne Schantz, Emilie Schantz, Mayah Kauffman, Sofia Kauffman, Lucas Kauffman, Macaley Arauz, Ian Arauz, Elliot Arauz, Clara Miller-Staub, Firean Steeples Yoder, Neve Steeples Yoder, Juliette Voth, Genevieve Voth, Georgiana Voth, Eliza Yoder, Charlotte Yoder, and Calvin Yoder; and siblings, Mary Mast of Hutchinson, KS, and Merlyn (Hans) Helmuth of Littleton, CO.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, John and Fannie Helmuth; husband, Ira Miller; son, Wein Miller; siblings, Elvon Helmuth, Eli Helmuth, Barbara Eller, John Helmuth Jr, Monty Helmuth, Henry Helmuth, and Katie Depew.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Plainview Mennonite Church, 5610 W. Trail West Road, Hutchinson, KS. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, August 17, 2023, at Elliott Mortuary, and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, August 18, 2023, with the family present at Plainview Mennonite Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Mennonite Friendship Communities, in care of Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.