Ivy Millar

The Come and Go Tea for Mrs. Ivy Millar of Swift Current will take place on Monday, February 20, 2023 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm from the Great Room at Riverview Village Estates, Swift Current (1101 2nd Ave SE). The Private Family Interment Service for Mrs. Ivy Millar will take place at a later date.In Lieu of flowers, Rita's family would appreciate donations made to the Swift Current SPCA or the Alzheimer’s Society. 

Ivy Millar (nee Menke), age 92, passed away quickly and peacefully on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at the Cypress Regional Hospital with her niece by her side.Ivy Frances Millar was born on February 20, 1930, in Chaplin, SK to Chris & Etta Menke. She was raised on a farm north of Shamrock, SK and was the oldest of six children (Irene, Larry, Lance and Richard). As a young child, before her siblings were born, she found life on the farm pretty lonely, and found companionship with the farm animals. As her siblings grew, Ivy and her sister, Irene, helped their mother with the boys by cooking dinner and baking treats for them. She especially enjoyed sleigh rides with friends and family in the winter.

Ivy learned her work ethic growing up on the farm. As a young person, she worked for neighbors doing childcare before moving to Saskatoon to train as a hairdresser. She became a lifelong hairdresser and could be found cutting or perming hair for family and friends in her kitchen. Initially, she worked as a hairdresser in Carrot River, SK, but it was too far from her beloved south Saskatchewan.

Returning to her roots, she met Bill Millar and they were married in October 1949, and had 67 years together. She became an active participant in building their family farm south of Chaplin, SK in the Droxford area, where they raised their two children, Clinton and Rita. She had a huge love of animals, and caring for the livestock was one of her greatest assets on the farm. She knew every cow and its history until the herd became too large. They had a fine herd of Charolais Cattle that they were proud of. She worked beside Bill milking cows, raising chickens and pigs, and farming their land. She always had a large garden and in her spare time sewed, knitted, and crocheted. She loved to go square dancing with Bill by her side and formed lifelong friends through the many dances they attended.

Ivy was a fantastic cook and baker, always having food on the table for whoever was visiting. Her grandchildren and great nieces and nephews especially enjoyed her gingerbread cookies – a welcome sight after a day running around the farm or a good game of capture the flag. Ivy & Bill were wonderful grandparents and spent many an hour at 4H events with their grandsons and they also enjoyed having their grandchildren from Calgary for two weeks every summer on the farm. She shared her love of games with them and often ended the day with a game of crib.

Ivy was an avid sewer. She learned to sew from her maternal grandmother and passed this skill on to her daughter, Rita, and her granddaughter, Alison. Over the years, she has made many square dance outfits. Ivy was also known for her crocheted blankets and later also for the many quilts she would make for all members of her family. It became a great pastime in her later years while living in her beloved condo. There she developed an extended family who looked out for her in her last years.

Ivy is survived by her children, Rita (David) Beal and Clinton (Darlene) Millar; her four grandchildren, Ryan (Tina) Millar, Clayton (Kimberley) Millar, Alison (Kevin) Carter, and Kevin (Ashley) Beal; her three great-grandchildren, Tatem, Tylinn, and Octavia; her siblings, Irene Bender, Larry (Ann) Menke, Lance (Karen) Menke, Richard Menke, and Willy Allen; and by many nieces and nephews from both the Millar and Menke family. She was predeceased by her husband, Bill (2017); her parents, Chris (1989) and Etta (1992); her brother, Glennie Menke; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Ken (Ivy) Millar, Lena (Benny) Hughes, Chris Bender, and Gloria “Daphine” Allen. 

The family would like to thank the residence of Bridle Run and The Meadows who made her condo an enjoyable place to spend her last season of her life, and the Home Care ladies who cared for Ivy and became friends that she enjoyed seeing every day. We also wish to extend our gratitude to the nurses at Cypress House and the Cypress Regional Hospital that cared for Ivy in her final hours.

The Private Family Interment Service will take place at a later date. In memory of Ivy Millar, and in lieu of flowers, donations made to the Swift Current SPCA or the Alzheimer’s Society would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK.

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