Mildred Iola Kohler

Mildred I. Kohler age 102 of Detroit Lakes, MN died September 15, 2014 at Essentia Health - St. Mary's Hospital in Detroit Lakes, MN. Mildred Speck Kohler was born July 15, 1912 the youngest of six children, to Christian and Bertha Joy Speck in Tekamah, NE. She attended Country School thru the eighth grade and then attended Tekamah High School, graduating in 1929 with a three year teaching certificate. After graduating she helped her parents on the farm and did substitute teaching. On January 11, 1933 she was united in marriage to Guy Kohler in Papillion, NE. Two daughters were born to this union, Sharon in 1943 and Kathy in 1946. They lived on a farm near Tekamah until 1949 when they moved to Lincoln, NE., where Guy worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad. At this time Mildred went to Business College and got her business degree. She worked for the state of Nebraska for fifteen years and then for the Miller & Payne Department Store in the auditing department for ten years. Mildred retired with her husband in 1974. Mildred and Guy lived in Lincoln for forty years, retiring to live on Wymer Lake near Frazee, MN, where they had built a cabin and had been summer residents. Mildred is survived by two grandsons, Robert (Dawn) Runge; and Bobby (Yvette Menchaca) Bayliss; one granddaughter, Katie Bayliss; five great grandchildren, Samantha, Josh, Nick, and Rebekah Runge; and Ethan Evans. Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Guy (2003); two daughters, Sharon Runge and Kathy Bayliss; infant grandson, Richard Runge Jr.; two brothers; three sisters; and her parents.