Billie Ann Millard

Billie Ann Stifter Millard, age 71, passed away November 23, 2023, at Olathe Medical Center where she was surrounded by all the love from her family. Billie was born May 6, 1952, in Paola, KS to Fred Stifter and Wilma Smith Stifter. She was the oldest of 6 children: Richard, Robert, Martha, Joyce, and Raymond. Most of her high school years were spent at Parker High School but she graduated from Prairie View High School in the class of 1970. After graduating high school, she attended Fort Scott’s Mercy School of Nursing where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Nursing and then passed the state exam to earn her Registered Nurse license. Billie worked many years for Miami County Hospital/Miami County Medical Center but spent her last 6 years working for Saint Luke’s South Hospital.

On November 21, 1972, Billie married Theron Nuel Millard. They were married at the courthouse in Paola, KS. In 1973 they started their family and had 4 children: Amy Millard Kirkpatrick (married Rick Kirkpatrick), Matthew Millard, Anne Millard Harsche (married Mitch Harsche), and Mary Millard Pinkerton (married Erick Pinkerton). Billie lived her whole life in the country in Linn County, KS near Parker. She absolutely adored her husband, Theron; they were inseparable. They were married for 51 beautiful years and there was no love stronger than theirs. She loved her children boundlessly and prayed constantly for their health and happiness. Unfortunately, in December 2011, she and Theron lost their son, Matt, after he fought a long battle with Wilson’s Disease.

Billie spent many years being a farmer’s wife and raising her babies. She worked hard at that, keeping her home, raising acres of beautiful gardens, preserving food, and helping her husband however she could. When she needed to go back to working an outside job, she did so to help earn money. Billie had so many different hobbies; she loved her gardens and had some of the most beautiful roses you have ever seen. She loved to go antiquing and refinished many pieces of furniture. The most important hobby she had was loving on and spending time with her grandchildren. Billie had 9 grandchildren: Ally, Ashlyn, and Abby Kirkpatrick; Gabe, Keeden, and Aiden Harsche; Natalee, Blake and Garrett Pinkerton. She used to say that she didn’t think she could love anyone more than she loved her children until she had grandchildren and she loved them as much and more. She loved them more than life itself.  Billie also believed in God and Jesus Christ and worshiped for several years at the Nazarene Church in Garnett, until it was too hard to get out of the house. Then she and Theron continued to worship in her home.

Billie was preceded in death by both of her parents, her son, her youngest brother, a niece (Megan Stifter) and all of her grandparents. She is survived by her husband and all three of her daughters and all her grandchildren. Her family knows that she is now in heaven where her body is whole again and where she suffers no more pain. They will miss her forever and when God calls them home they will be reunited with her. We love you so much, mom! Thank you for being the love of dad’s life and for teaching us love.