Nancy Yvonne Miller

Nancy Yvonne Miller passed peacefully in her home in River Falls, WI onTuesday, January 21, 2025. She is survived by her husband Michael, children Benjamin, Cameron, Addison Filiatreaux (Reid), grandsons Leonard and Walter Filiatreaux, brothers Thomas (Mary) and Douglas (Vicky), sisters Kathleen Bloom (Allan Bernard) and Wendy Austin (Chris), brother-in-law Tim Chrouser (step-sister Kelly, deceased), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Nancy was born April 5, 1957, the daughter of Ralph and Ardis Bloom, in Sacred Heart, Minnesota. The family moved to Stanley, Wisconsin, where her father had a newspaper business. Ralph passed at the early age of 39, leaving Ardis the task of raising five children and running a newspaper, which she did with aplomb. During this time, Nancy and her two sisters grew a bond that would last a lifetime. Ardis remarried, and the family moved to Centuria, where Nancy graduated from Unity High School. She then attended UW-Eau Claire for one year, and then transferred to UW-River Falls, where she received a BA in Theater, with a minor in Library Science. She met the love of her life, Michael, while a student. They were married March 3, 1979, in the middle of a wild Wisconsin blizzard.

Nancy loved her children- Benjamin, Cameron, and Addison- heart and soul. These three will remain forever with her. While nurturing them, she also pursued a career in Library Science, starting out as a Library Aide at the River Falls Public Library in 1980. She received a Master’s degree from Rosary College in Illinois, and became the Children’s Librarian in River Falls. She then accepted a position as Library Director in New Richmond. In 2000, Nancy returned to River Falls and served as the Library Director until she retired in 2020.

Under her leadership, the River Falls Public Library received the prestigious Library of the Year Award in 2015 from the Wisconsin Library Association. The WLA selects one library from all public, university, and institutional libraries in the state. Nancy wrote the application while on an extended motorcycle tour to the southwest, sending versions back to Kim Kiiskanen for review and submission. Nancy was the driving force behind finishing the library lower level, which then provided gallery functions, theater presentations, author lectures, musical programming, and many more. As in all things she took on, scope and limitations were nebulous concepts. Her view was not, “What can we get done?”, but rather “We are going to reach for the stars. Are you ready?”

While building circulation, collection, programming, and service at the library, and raising her family with her husband, Nancy pursued many additional contributions to the community. She served on the IFLS/ MORE Library Directors Council. She was instrumental in establishing River Falls Community Theater, contributing as actress, director, and costumer, and served as Chairwoman for two extended time frames. She costumed shows at UW-RF, and received awards for her work. She directed and costumed shows at the River Falls High School. She costumed shows for the Phipps Center in Hudson. A firm believer in life-long education, she served on the Board of the UW-RF Continuing Education. She worked on Habitat For Humanity projects in River Falls, as well as travelling to Biloxi, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, to help rebuild. Several women learned the proper way to drive 16d nails under her tutelage. She worked on projects with Hearts and Hammers, a non-profit organization that restores homes for seniors, disabled, and veterans. Her outreach extended beyond our shores, as she travelled to teach teenage girls to sew in Jamaica, through Travelling With A Purpose. Nancy served as Commissioner of Clan McCrae, Northern Lights Chapter, contributing to the yearly Minnesota Scottish Clan Fair and Highland Games at Macalester College. Nancy served on the Board of the River Falls Tuesday Club. She taught Sunday School at Ezekiel Luther Church in River Falls. Nancy performed with Apogee, a Jazz Ensemble, and sang with the UW-RF Alumni Choir for years, eventually travelling on tour to Ireland with them. Nancy was a supporter of Fox Den Books in River Falls, appearing yearly as Professor Sprout, to the delight of young and old.

This is just a partial listing of organizations that Nancy contributed to. The specifics of each one would comprise an opus much too long for this purpose. Her broad success in nearly everything she accomplished was due, in part, to her persona. It was very difficult to say no to her, when she had her sights set on an outcome, because of her genuine honest, enthusiastic, vibrant, and uplifting spirit. It radiated out from her, and was infectious. Her attitude was not, “We can’t do that.” It was, “Reach for the stars, baby. You won’t grasp them if you don’t reach!”

In the midst of all of this, Nancy managed to travel to 38 states, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy, Nova Scotia, France, and Egypt. She travelled with her adult children and son-in-law to New York, to see a number of Broadway productions. She loved the performing arts, never missing an opportunity, including seeing Don Giovanni and La Boheme in Florence, Italy.

In retirement, she also provided part time day care for her two grandsons, Leonard and Walter Filiatreaux, who she considered to be the two greatest 5 and 7 year olds on the face of the planet. These were some of the most treasured moments in her life.

Throughout all of these lifelong achievements, Nancy brought a vibrancy that could not be ignored. She thought that anything could be accomplished, with the right people, attitude, and effort. The goals she set sometimes seemed out of reach to those around her, but she just kept at the task, along with those she convinced to join in, and great heights were reached.

Nancy was a deeply spiritual person. She believed that we can walk in heaven on this earth. All we have to do to accomplish that is to show kindness, friendship, joy, and love. That belief set was ever-present and visible throughout her life, for all to see.

She did her part.

Funeral Service will be held at Ezekiel Lutheran Church in River Falls, February 8th. Celebration of Life will begin at 10:30, Service at 11:30, with reception to follow. The Service will be live-streamed on the church’s web site. Family and close friends can gather at Swinging Bridge from 2:30 to 10:00, to share stories, friendship, and love. It is a relatively small venue, but we can share. The owner was a dear friend of Nancy’s.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider a donation to The River Falls Public Library. Notate “Nancy Miller Memorial”. This fund will go toward a physical improvement to the Children’s Library, to be approved by the family. A plaque will be displayed at the Children’s Library that recognizes her contributions to this wonderful community center. While her contributions as Director were immensely impactful to the community, her work as Children’s Librarian directly affected so very many lives of children and parents. She would have said, “Reach for the stars!”