Mildred Barthel

MIldred Louisa Vanderbeek Barthel, formely of Cedar Rapids and Mt. Vernon, retired to Logan, Utah in March 1995, died July 24, 2014 in Logan.. Friends may call from 10:00 until service time at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 2, 2014 at the Mount Vernon Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. Burial Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, August 24, 1924, but lived her childhood years in Washington, D.C. She married John Paul Barthel, September 21, 1946 in Washington, D.C. After joining the LDS Church their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple in 1967. Both MIlly and John graduated from Western Maryland College in Westminster, Maryland. After receiving his medical training at University of Maryland Medical School, Baltimore, Maryland, John and Milly decided to move to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to raise their family. While living in Iowa Milly was active in community affairs, especially with the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra Women's Auxiliary, and community theater, as well as several poetry groups. She was a member of PEO in both Iowa and Utah and in 1982 chosen Iowa Mother of the year by American Mothers, Inc. She served many years on the AMI National Board in various leadership positions and assisted in writing parenting lessons for AMI Magazine for 12 years. She held numerous callings in the LDS Church, in Cedar Rapids, Mt. Vernon, Iowa branch, and in Bridgerland Park 1st Ward in Logan. Her last time to serve was at Pioneer Lodge. Her best thinking, whether it was a poem she was working on or a family relationship she was pondering, was done while working on a baby quilt to give to an unknown child in some foreign orphanage, AMI quilt drive, CAPSA, etc. Hundreds of quilts were made and given in the process of 30 or more years. She was happiest when busy this way of feeling useful. She is survived by her brother, Herbert Byron Vanderbeek and by children: Christy DenBeste (Daniel); Catherine DeMoss; Thomas Barthel (Amy); Brian Barthel (Stefanie); John David Barthel (Delores); Priscilla Barthel. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Paul Barthel, and by a son, James Arthur Barthel, and her parents and her brother, James Vanderbeek. She is also survived by 23 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren. A memorial fund in Millie's honor has been established. On-line condolences: www.morganfuneralchoices.com