December 14, 2022, Mildred Walter, 94

Funeral Services for Mildred Walter, age 94 of Lenox who passed away Tuesday, December 6, 2022 in Creston, was held Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Lenox Christian Church. Visitation was at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox from 4 – 7 PM Friday, December 9, 2022. Interment at the West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Memorials can be made in memory of Mildred Walter. Memories may be shared at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox where we ‘Celebrate Life’. A live stream of the services will be held on the Ritchie Funeral Home Face Book Page and later on the website under Mildred’s name.
Mildred Marie Brown Walter, daughter of Walter and Ruth (Haigler) Brown, was born at the farm home on December 5, 1928, in the Iveyville community, south of Corning, Iowa. Mildred went to Heaven on December 6, 2022. She was 94 years old.
Mildred attended Jasper #6, country school by walking, or riding her pony 1¼ mile to the school. During her childhood, Mildred was surrounded by extended family, and learned the responsibilities of farm life. She loved the outdoors and was pretty much a “Tom Boy”. She helped her Dad with chores, carried buckets of feed and water, and loved being the “water boy” for the Thrashers along with helping during hay season. In other words she was always in the midst of the farming life.
Mildred developed a love of music from her parents and grandmother and began to take piano lessons in Corning when she was 5. Her Grandmother’s love for the Lord and music set an example in those early years that continued all her life. She also spent a lot of time visiting an Aunt and Uncle who prayed and studied the Bible every morning. She was baptized in the Corning Methodist Church in 1946.
Mildred continued taking piano lessons throughout her high school years, accompanied the choruses and soloists, and received all “1” ratings at district and state piano contests. Her love for music continued after graduating from Corning High School in 1946. She attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa for two years, where she majored in piano and minored in voice. One of her accomplishments was at her Sophomore Recital when she was able to play a Bach Invention, a Beethoven Sonata, and a 77 page MacDowell Concerto, all completely memorized. During those years, she accompanied many musical groups; one was when she and another lady played two pianos to accompany a large choir that sang “The Messiah”, along with the opera soloists from Chicago. Then, from 1948 to 1950, Mildred worked in the Directory Sales Department for Bell Telephone Company in Des Moines where she also accompanied the Bell Telephone Choir.
Mildred married her high school sweetheart, Richard L. Walter on August 13, 1950. They began their new life together in DeWitt, Iowa. Dick worked as an underwriter for Iowa Mutual Insurance Company and Mildred transferred to N.W. Bell Telephone Company in Davenport, Iowa. She later joined Dick to do secretarial work for the Insurance Co. until their first child, Susan, was born in 1952.
Their life’s dream came true in 1953, when they were able to move back to Lenox, to the Walter Family Farm, where they raised chickens, hogs, cattle, corn, beans and 6 children. It was a busy life but a very happy one. A primary goal was to raise their children in the First Christian Church. Music had also become a part of their family’s life. playing or singing for funerals and weddings. Along with learning to play the organ, she also gave voice and piano lessons and played or sang for many funerals or weddings. During those busy years she drove back and forth to Maryville, Missouri in order to complete her Music Education Degree. She had also begun to teach in public schools at Lenox, and Prescott on temporary teaching certificates. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in the summer of 1971. That fall, a committee representing the Lenox Centennial asked Mildred to help organize and lead a choir to advertise and spread the word about the coming Lenox 1972 Centennial Celebration. She was privileged to lead a talented group of people, the Lentennial Aires, who performed in 30 concerts in various towns, which included singing for a radio station and making a recording in Omaha.
Mildred and Dick enjoyed playing Duplicate Bridge for many years with other couples in Lenox. Mildred belonged to H.S. Club, a ladies’ bridge club, and she was a 50+ year member of PEO. While in Wickenburg, Arizona, she helped to organize a PEO Sisterhood there. Mildred enjoyed meeting with the ladies in CWF and helped with money raising projects, dinners and bazaars for the Lenox Christian Church. She attended the International BSF, Bible Study Fellowship, for 7 years in Russellville, Arkansas, which involved in depth study, and meeting weekly. Throughout her later years, she continued bible studies and read the Bible in its entirety six different times.
When they moved to Wickenburg, Arizona in 1985, Mildred was asked to play the organ and also to lead the choir occasionally for the Presbyterian Church services. She accompanied the Wickenburg Community Choir and worked as an accompanist for the Wickenburg Schools. She also gave private vocal and piano lessons in her home.
After retiring in 1992, Dick and Mildred chose to move to Dover, Arkansas where they enjoyed the beautiful mountains and the Ozark National Forest. The Lord continued to bless her life by sending them to Dover First Baptist Church. She used His gift to worship and praise Him through the music she played on the organ for the church services.
In 2011, Dick and Mildred made their final move back to Lenox where they first began their life together. Mildred devoted her time to care for Dick, the love of her life, until he passed away on July 14, 2015.
Dick and Mildred were blessed with three daughters and three sons. They raised their children in a Christian home that was filled with love, laughter, and music. Mildred never hesitated to make sacrifices for her family. She was always there when someone needed a helping hand, ready to listen, and give strength and support. Her love for her family was constant, unfailing, and spending countless hours praying for each one of her 6 children, 14 grand children, 31 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren. She welcomed each new little one with open arms and deep love.
Left to cherish the memory of a wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother are her six children: Susan Lynn Leach (J.R.) of Edmond, Oklahoma; Jeanne Kaye Masters (Jerry) of Dover, Arkansas; Janis Lee Christensen (Tom) of Lenox; Orval “David” Walter of Prescott, Arizona; Mark Richard Walter (Juliann) of Twin Lakes, Iowa; and John William Walter (Jane) of Tarkio, Missouri; 14 grandchildren: Jennifer Springer; Christopher (Erica) Yates; Chad (Rhonda) Masters, Joshua (Kara) Masters; Kurtis (Julie) Christensen; Tysen (Erin) Christensen; Kristen (Ben) Graham; Jacob (Tera) Walter, Rick (Anna) Walter, Cole (Sharde) Walter; Brennan Walter, Rachel Walter; Jessica (Dustin) Lambertsen,; J.D. Walter. Step-grandsons: Clint and Chris Leach. 31 Great Grandchildren: Courtney and Caitlin Springer; Joshua, Hannah, Rebekah, Timothy, Bethany Yates; Bryce (Rachel) Masters; Sydney Masters; Jacob and Drew Masters; Brenden (Linze), Lauren, and Jaelynn Christensen; Hadlee, Jesa and Zander Christensen; Ella, Brayden and Luke Graham; Heather Walter, Alexa, Kash, Emma, Kaleb, Elizabeth, and Abigail Walter; Morrison and Presley Walter; Rory and Walter Lambertsen, 2 great -great-grandchildren: Marshall and Lizzy Masters; sister-in-law, Burdean Brown of Corning, Iowa; sister-in-law, Mary Jo Hall of Parker, Colorado; nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Richard L. Walter; her parents, Walter and Ruth (Haigler) Brown; brother Marlin Brown; in laws Orval and Dorothy Walter, brother-in-law, Philip Hall, and nephew, Stephan Hall.
Mildred will be dearly missed by her family but they ha ve the assurance that she is now singing this song to Jesus, her Savior:
“Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His spirit, washed in His blood!”
Our Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and Great-Great-Grandmother has given to each of us her song as a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ that will be treasured in our hearts forever.
“This is my story, this is my song;
Praising my Savior all the day long.”