Mil was born on September 28, 1921 to Helen Wentling while they lived on the corner of Jonestown Road and Lincoln School Road in Ono. She had a younger brother, Dick and a sister, Kathryn.
She attended Lincoln School; a one-room school nearby. One of her teachers was George Washington Walmer, (Dennis’ grandfather). For a couple of years, she had perfect attendance and he gave those children a dish. She liked school but had no favorite subject. She moved in with her Aunt Hilda in Palmyra for four years so she could attend high school because there was no bus service. She graduated from Palmyra High School.
She met her husband, Ralph (Bud) as he grew up on a farm not far from Ono. His dad had promised him a car and so he would drive to Ono. They were married June 12, 1943. They would sometimes get bats in the house and on one occasion when Bud’s cousin from Reading was sleeping over, they used Bud’s tennis racket to whack at the bats. He kept it in the closet for many years...maybe it’s still there. Bud and Miles Walmer, who lived down the road would play tennis together at the building near Reed’s Creek down the road from the O’Yes Hotel.
Bud continued working on the farm and Mil helped milking cows, feeding the calves and taking care of the chickens. She did not drive a tractor nor do the field work. They often had hired men and she cooked dinner for everyone. She tended a big garden, picked, canned and froze vegetables and she enjoyed mowing the lawn. She said, “I worked too hard”.
They had three children, Daryl, Sue and Deb. Her grandchildren are Jeanette, Loretta, Lorraine, Jessica, Michelle and Michael. Her grandson, Michael got married on the front porch of the farmhouse and is presently living there with his wife, Jennifer. Nine great grandchildren complete her family: Mason, Preston, Carter, Kiley, Kaleb, Hannah, Simon, Paige and Mira.
Mil enjoyed making quilts with Bud’s mother that she was able to share with her grandchildren. She also crocheted many afghans. Her favorite color is blue. Her favorite meal is pot pie and she likes desserts. She enjoyed making pies, especially fruit pies with crumb toppings. At Christmas she always made 2 canisters full of sour cream cookies...her favorite kind. She liked the fact that her washer and dryer were in her kitchen because then she could do laundry while cooking and baking. She said the meals at Cedar Haven aren‘t like her home cooking.
She went to church in Ono where she sang in the choir. Her favorite Bible verse is “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Her advice is “to attend church and remain faithful to it.”
Mil passed away Monday, July 6, 2020.