Millie passed away shortly after her 90th birthday, on March 8, 2017 as the result of a fall. She was born March 4, 1927 in Great Falls, MT to George and Martha Foster; she was the fifth of seven children and the first one born in a hospital. Millie was raised and attended school in Augusta, MT until the last two years of high school when she moved to Great Falls to live with her oldest sister where she worked to finish school. IN school in Augusta, she was a member of the chorus, band, and the woman’s basketball team. At the time, their band made a trip to Havre to play for the then governor, Sam Ford; this made quite an impression on her.
Immediately after high school, Millie and Calvin Hicks, a Wolf Creek area rancher, were married in Great Falls on June 9, 1945. They were married for 55 ½ years before Calvin’s passing in 2000. Millie lived on the ranch near Wolf Creek until October 2016, when she moved to assisted living. Millie was very involved in the ranch operation and enjoyed raising Hereford cattle and later, Angus cattle, horses, Border collie dogs, and chickens. She took great pride in the large garden she grew and enjoyed canning and freezing the garden products as well as making lots of jam and jelly.
Hummingbirds were a passion and Millie waited in anticipation of their arrival in the spring. This past summer she would climb the ladder twice a day to keep the hummingbird feeders full and always had a batch of food ready for the next feeding.
Millie was a member of the Dearborn Homemakers for over 50 years, the Lewis and Clark County Cattle Women, a charter member Dearborn Garden Club, a member of the Lincoln Wood Carvers, a member of the Dearborn Chapel, and a member of the Wolf Creek school P.T.A. when the kids attended school there. She also volunteered for events and happenings in the community. Millie did lots of knitting, sewing, and reading and the highlight of the last few years was going to Lincoln to wood carve on Wednesdays.
Millie enjoyed country Western music and played the piano occasionally at dances in Augusta, Craig, and Wolf Creek. She and Cal enjoyed dancing and both were accomplished dancers. They could be found dancing on weekends all around the area. In later years they especially enjoyed going to the Elks in Helena on Friday nights to dance.
Millie enjoyed going to bull sales and auctions with Cal. She was a very social person and liked to visit with anyone and everyone.
Surviving Millie are a daughter, Susan and Ray Hemmer of Lincoln, and a son, Tony and Janice Hicks of Ovando, grandson, Les Hicks (Holly) and a granddaughter, Jody Hicks (Shane), great granddaughters, Megan, Brooke, and Ella Hicks and a sister, Helen (frank) Morgan of Augusta. She was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin, her parents and siblings (who knew her as Bizzy) brother, Frank P. Foster, sisters, Emma Breidenbach, Martha Youderian, Minnie Lund, Opal Smith and an infant brother.
She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
We would like to thank all the neighbors, family and friends who came to visit, called and brought food and friendship to Millie in her later years and for their generosity and support – especially Don and Cherie Johnson, her neighbors, for their caring and concern over the years. Also thank you to the staff at Country Life Assisted Living for the care and compassion during the short time she lived there and the doctors and nurses at St. Peter’s Hospital and Frontier Hospice.
Memorials in Millie’s name are suggested to Gift of Life Housing, Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59406, Dearborn Cemetery, 5405 Hwy 434, Wolf Creek, MT 59648, Frontier Hospice, 800 Front Street, Helena, MT 59601, or a charity of the donor’s choosing. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Millie.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday March 25, 2017
Andeson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the memorial service
Saturday March 25, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday March 25, 2017
Andeson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the memorial service
Saturday March 25, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
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Pete & Judy Burggraff says
Susan and Tony what a wonderful job you did on writing your mother’s obituary. We had been looking for it and now I’ve printed it and it certainly will be saved. Pete and I are still at our winter home in AZ and won’t be back in time to attend the memorial service. We will be thinking of you and of our dear friend, Millie. We hear you and Tony are having health issues right now and we send our prayers to both of you. Do take care and we want you to know that your mother was such a good friend and she will be sorely missed.
Karen and Frank Rowan says
Suzie and Tony,
Millie has been on my mind for several weeks. I always think of her on the 4th. I have the best memories of your parents. I’m sure Dot and her are catching up. Mom loved her friend “Millie” very much. She was a great friend. I can see her now climbing the ladder to feed the hummingbirds. We are in Tucson and unfortunately won’t be home for the service. You are in our thoughts.
Pat Wohlgemuth says
I worked at Shopko in Great Falls and your sweet mother was a customer of mine for years. I always enjoy visiting with her. God Bless You at this time.
Brenda Blackman Gruel says
I will always remember one time when Mom, Dad, Randy and I came to visit. Mom went out to an outhouse. She didn’t return for an hour so Millie got worried and went out to find her. Millie’s large tom turkey knew that our Mom was afraid of it so it was patrolling the outhouse. Every time my Mom stuck her head out the door, the turkey would be there. I have always chuckled over that. I bet it became Thanksgiving dinner. I have many good memories of visiting with you and your family.
Ann Bay says
Whenever I hear thunder, especially on a sunny day, I will know Cal & Millie are just a polka away up there in the clouds dancing again!
Best memories of learning to dance at Sterns Hall with Cal & Millie coaching, capturing cats at Millie’s house and Millie’s laughter.
Will miss her greatly!
Marcia (Koepp) Hannay says
Dear Suzie and Tony,
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your dear mother “Millie”. She was such a great person and my mom’s oldest and dearest friend as Dorothy liked to remind everyone all the time. They were only days apart in birth and had known each other longer than any other friends my mom had. Your mom was a true ranch hand and ranch homemaker in the sense of the word. She told the best stories about the ranch and I used to love to hear her tell about the adventures with the animals and “snakes” at the ranch.
She had the best laugh and it was infectious when you were around her. I remember both your parents Cal and Millie very foundly from when I was a child and they would come around to visit mom and dad.
Now the 4 of them can all be dancing and exchanging stories up there together and watch over all of us as the angels that I know they are. Always and forever in our hearts all of them.
Russ Jacques says
My mother knew of Millie and wanted to meet her. Stopping by on the way to French Creek we knocked on the door where Millie answered and invited us in. We stayed over an hour and had such a fine time. Millie is such a good host
and her and my mom got along great. I remember that visit every time I pass the ranch.
Jac k and Jan Reagor says
Millie and Cal were both very friendly to our family. we spent many good times together. We will remember them forever.
Jere Hoy says
Tony – I’m so sorry for your loss. Losing a parent is never easy. She sounds like she led a full and independent life.
Windy, Aaron & Dustin Knutson says
Sue and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. I missed seeing Millie at the ranch this past year. I always enjoyed when she would come greet us as she was either taking care of her many cats or getting in the pickup to check mail. She will be missed. Aaron and I will miss the services on Saturday as we’ll be in Missoula for Dustin’s rugby, but if you need help with anything, please let us know.
Don & Cherie Johnson says
Don & Cherie Johnson
I’m sure you will miss Millie as we will so many stories so little time . She was so proud of her family and talked about you all the time
It is so hard to lose a mother, they always seem to have the answer no mater what the question. Be strong as she is now with her beloved Cal.
No more pain
DEBBIE MURGEL SCHRAMM says
I enjoyed taking care of Millie at the Assisted Living, she was a sweet and lovable person. I will always remember her sweet smile, her kind words and know that she was loved by many people. She will be missed by many but you have all the good memories. I was thankful that we were able to care for her and get to know her. She will always have a place in my heart. She has a good family that loved her so very much. Thank you for the good memories and the person she was. Keep your chins up and remember to always smile, because she always made me laugh and smile. She was a good lady. I am so sorry for your loss, but just remember the good times. Love Debbie
David & Shirley Parker says
Dear Cousins, Suzie & Tony and your families,
We are related to Millie and all of you because Dave’s Dad, Clair Parker, was Millie’s Uncle. Clair was a brother of Millie’s mother, Martha. I’m certain that if we had lived closer we would have visited the Hick’s Ranch more often. Many years ago we traveled to Wolf Creek and had our first visit with Millie and Cal. Such grand, genuine, welcoming, and hard working people. They were our family. We learned a lot about cattle ranching in their part of Montana. Millie’s obit. mentions that to her family she was known as “Bizzy”. I remember her Uncle Clair telling us that when Millie was growing up the children in the family took turns washing and drying dishes. The story Clair told is that quite often when it was Millie’s turn at that chore she would disappear. Her siblings would track here down and find Millie in the outhouse. They’d shout at her and tell her to get to the house and help with washing the dishes. Clair related that Millie would shout back saying, “I’m busy”. According to Uncle Clair, that’s how she got her beloved nick name. Millie and her husband Cal were blessed with a loving marriage and now at last they are once again in each others arms. We love you Millie. “God could not be everywhere and so he made Mothers”.
We send you our love,
David (Dave) & Shirley Parker
Enterprise, Oregon