Mildred Louise Gackle was born in a farmhouse in Jacktown Oregon on November 23, 1924. She is preceded in death by her parents Charles Hammar Roseman and Elva Lourene Smith Roseman, Her sister Charlotte Marie Gibboney and Millie's husband of 51 years Leonard Lloyd Gackle. She is survived by their two children: Patricia Breakfield and her husband Kerm; and David Gackle his wife Vikki and their children Kaiah, Mason and Jakob.
Millie grew up on a farm, attended a one room schoolhouse through the 8th grade and then graduated from Hillsboro highschool in 1941. She was active in 4H taking up gardening, cooking, sewing, art and raising rabbits. When she was 17 years old she volunteered as a lookout for planes and balloons during WWII.
In 1946 she graduated from Cascade College and then in 1949 she graduated from the School of Nursing at Emanuel Hospital in Portland Oregon. During the 1950's she became a missionary nurse in Kenya Africa through WGM for 7 1/2 years. The 1950's was a time of unrest in Kenya. After her first term in Kenya, she attended midwifery training for one year in England to better help with the needs at Tenwek Hospital. Wichita Avenue Evangelical Church provided about 85% of her monthly support to go to Kenya.
While speaking at Wichita Church to raise funds for missions, her personal return to Kenya was questionable at this time, she met a man named Leonard and ultimately did not return to the mission field.
Leonard and Millie were married on October 5th 1963. Eventually settling down in West Linn Oregon to raise their family. For 19 years she worked at Willamette Falls Hospital and retired in 1989.
Both Leonard and Millie loved the Lord deeply and both were very active in the church and in supporting missions. Millie led numerous Bible studies and had a leading role in a Church Christmas play when she was 75 years old as a cantankerous old woman. When she was 90 years old she won judges' choice for a story she wrote about her time in Kenya. Around this same time, and with her grandchildren in mind, she self published her book on the time she spent in Kenya - Tadpoles in the Milk.
Millie remained active in Church, Bible studies, social groups, craft classes and her writing club until she left Homewoods on the Willamette at about 95 years old. Her one last goal was to make it to 100 which she did on Saturday November 23, 2024. The next day she attended Sunday services as she normally did, but this time wearing a sash and tiara stating she was 100 years old, and thoroughly enjoying the attention. She remained a faithful attendee for Sunday morning church up to the time of her call home to heaven - the day after Thanksgiving November 29, 2024. She is deeply loved and will be deeply missed.