Remembering Ann Ahrenholtz Miller
Ann Ahrenholtz Miller, former administrative assistant at the National Resource Center on Native American Aging at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in Grand Forks. She was in the company of family with her husband of 56 years and best friend for 63 years, Glenn Ashley Miller II, by her side. Diagnosed with lung cancer in February, she was a graceful force until the end. She was 74.
Ann was born Feb. 28, 1942, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to Margaret Marie and Chester Bernard Ahrenholtz. Following her father’s death, Ann’s mother moved Ann and her sister Aletha “Lee” May Melchior to Canton, Mo. It was there that 11-year-old Ann and Glenn met. Through a shared love of books and reading, they became best friends and fell in love. On March 23, 1960, Ann Ahrenholtz married Glenn Miller.
Ann’s spirit is carried on by her two children, Christopher Ashley (Teri) Miller of San Francisco and Heather Lyn (Roger) Takacs of Westminster, Calif. With the arrival of her four grandchildren, Dylan Ashley Miller, Morgan Evan Miller, Paige Keeley Miller, and Max Glenn Takacs, she became known as “GranAnn.” She followed their academics, sports, hobbies, and careers with great interest. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her extended family including three brothers-in-law, their wives, four nephews, and four nieces.
Ann graduated as valedictorian from Canton High School. After many years as a stay-at-home mother, she returned to school and received an associate of science degree from Roane State Community College in Tennessee. Ann spent 15 years working for the Minnesota Historical Society at the James J. Hill House in St. Paul. She also served as the program director for the Arthritis Foundation in Georgia. She tried retirement, but declared it “boring.” After painting her bathroom so many times that it was getting smaller, she decided to go back to work. Since 2009, Ann has been the administrative assistant for the National Resource Center on Native American Aging at the UND School of Medicine.
In her spare time, Ann loved reading, sewing, knitting, and watching old movies, professional tennis and basketball. Despite her claim she hated gardening, she also had the loveliest flowers growing in her yard. In her last days, North Dakota provided just the type of weather Ann so loved … crisp cold air, big beautiful skies, and crunchy snow. She loved it when the snow crunched underfoot.
Ann had a great sense of style, impeccable taste in eyewear and footwear, a quick sense of humor, and beautiful laugh that will be missed by all.
There will be a private family ceremony celebrating Ann’s life in the spring of 2017 in Missouri. To honor Ann’s memory, you are welcome to send memorials to Altru Cancer Center, Altru Hospice, the Minnesota Historical Society, or the charity of your choice.
— Historic Norman Funeral Home, Grand Forks, N.D., and Davis Funeral Home, Canton, Mo., normanfuneral.com. Condolences may be expressed online at whig.com.
