Audrey Milliken, (nee Beckstead), age 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday August 9, 2008 at Cedar Community Health & Rehabilitation, West Bend, WI.
She was born on July 28, 1918 in Payette, Idaho. Her mother, Hattie Beckstead, was a Postmistress in Council, Idaho for many years. Audrey grew up in Council and attended Council public schools, graduating from high school in 1935. She then attended St. Alphonsus Hospital School of Nursing in Boise, Idaho where she became an X-ray Technician. She worked at both St. Alphonsus and at St. Luke's during World War II and shortly thereafter.
Engaged prior to the start of World War II, Audrey and Charles Ronald Milliken were finally united in marriage on January 5, 1946 in Boise, Idaho, upon his release as a Japanese prisoner of war for the past 41/2 years.
They moved from Boise to the Chicago suburbs in 1954, and lived in Clarendon Hills, IL until 1975, shortly before Charles retired. They acquired a second home in Wickenburg, AZ in the early 70's and enjoyed being able to see the mountains everyday.
Upon Charles' death in 1982, Audrey spent summers back in McCall, Idaho, near where she grew up. There she was involved with the Senior Citizens program for a number of years, and loved being back in the pine trees and mountain air.
Audrey is survived by two daughters, Maureen Harris of Mequon, WI, and Charlene Lambert of Leiden, The Netherlands; a granddaughter, Lisa Lambert of Dublin, Ireland; a grandson, Nicholas Lambert of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada; and a great-granddaughter, Isabelle Rafferty of Dublin, Ireland.
Family services in remembrance of Audrey will be held at a later date in Idaho. In Audrey's memory, please make a gift in her name to the National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., Office of Development, 1501 NW 9th Ave./ Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494.