Mildred Elmgren

Mildred C. Elmgren passed away on Jan. 8, 2015, in Walla Walla with her two sons at her bedside.

Mildred Zeltha Cannon, “Millie” was born on Dec. 7, 1922, in College Place to Ralph T. Cannon and Ethel (McIntyre) Cannon. The family moved off the farm in Athena to Walla Walla, where Millie attended Walla Walla High School (Class of 1941) and later went to Washington State College. She joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority there and formed lifelong bonds with her friends in Pullman. Like many of her generation, college was interrupted when she joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a SPAR from 1944 to 1946, returning to school after her service to finish her degree at WSC in 1949.

After college she married Raymond L. Elmgren and had three boys, Bradley, Erik and Jon. The family initially lived in Bellevue, Wash., later moving to Longview and then settling in Kennewick, where husband Ray worked for Washington Public Power Supply System. After retirement from WPPSS they moved back to Walla Walla.

Millie was a self-taught golfer with a signature straight-arm swing. Her drives were straight and short but she made up strokes with a chip and a putt. She and Ray were members of the Tri-City Golf and Country Club and later Millie joined the Walla Walla Country Club.

Millie volunteered on many fronts, first maintaining the directory of Kappa Alpha Theta for decades. She kept the list current by searching out Thetas across the United States by phone, letter and newspaper. She was active in P.E.O., a women’s philanthropic educational organization, and served as the treasurer for Walla Walla Chapter BI for many years. She did the books for Meals on Wheels in Walla Walla long after hers were wearing out.

Millie was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond; and son, Bradley. She is survived by her sister, Marian Taylor (William) of Walla Walla; son, Erik Elmgren (Kathy) of Kennewick, and son, Jon Elmgren (Martha) of Snohomish; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Millie was helped immensely by her niece, Barbara Taylor of Walla Walla, during the last years of her life.

The funeral service will be Friday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m. at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to “Chapter BI of the P.E.O. Sisterhood” through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home or mailed to 786 Wauna Vista Drive, Walla Walla, WA 99362.