ELLINWOOD — Phyllis Marie (Alpers) Miller, 94, of Ellinwood passed away peacefully at Ellinwood Country Living on April 6, 2026. She was born June 22, 1931, to Elmer Leo and Laura Matilda (Hullman) Alpers at St. Rose Hospital in Great Bend.
Phyllis attended German Valley Grade School, graduated from Hudson High School in 1949, and Hutchinson Community Junior College. After college, she taught 1st through 3rd grades at Wheatland School, District 105 south of Ellinwood for two years.
Phyllis married George Miller Jr. at Peace United Church in Hudson on May 29, 1954. They enjoyed 65 years together on their farm in rural Ellinwood. He passed away July 3, 2019.
Phyllis’ faith and positive attitude never wavered despite the valleys in her life from losing son, Kelly Miller; grandson, Colin Miller; siblings, Wayne ‘Red’ Alpers, Florene Kallaus, and Robert Alpers; niece, Jill Alpers; and numerous Alpers and Hullman cousins and close friends.
Phyllis was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church, Ellinwood. She joined when she married George. In addition, she was a member of Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League, Church Altar Guild, charter member of Tri-Circle Club (which started shortly after Kelly was born), Ellinwood Historical Society, Ellinwood Heritage Club, Barton Farm Bureau, Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce, and the Barton County Cougar Foundation.
Phyllis and George were proud to be part of the Ellinwood Community, always wanting to support and give back to their community to ensure it thrived. They were named the outstanding citizens of Ellinwood one year and served as the grand Marshalls of the After Harvest Parade. They loved antiques, owning the local antique shop “Our Mother’s Treasures” for 10 years. In addition, at one time, they owned eight buildings in Ellinwood and were former part-owners of the Ellinwood Underground Tunnels, with Phyllis volunteering to give tunnel tours.
Phyllis loved to play cards, and took pride in her immaculate home. Every year, Phyllis would put out a large garden, growing lots of cucumbers, which she would make and can pickles-sweet, dill, and red.
Phyllis and George were blessed to have many close friends they enjoyed traveling with to various states. Every winter, for 20 years, they looked forward to venturing with friends to Laughlin, Nev.
Survivors include grandson, Saul Miller and wife Colbi; her two precious great-granddaughters, Brooke Monet and Blaire Marie Miller; daughter-in-law, Fawnia Miller, all of Ellinwood; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Lester and Pat Conner; cousins, Marion Alpers, Jerry Tieperman, and Marvin Sittner; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service will be 2 p.m. Friday, April 10, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church, 512 N. Wilhelm Avenue, Ellinwood, with Pastor Kenton Abbott officiating. Burial will follow in Lakin-Comanche Cemetery, Ellinwood. Friends may call from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 4 to 6 p.m. at Minnis Chapel, 113 N. Main St., Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to Ellinwood Country Living, St. John Lutheran Church, or Peace Church, Hudson, in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526. Condolences may be left at www.minnischapel.org.
The family wishes to thank Gentiva and the staff at Ellinwood Country Living for all their love and support given to Phyllis.
Funeral services provided by
Minnis Chapel
P.O. Box 246
Ellinwood, KS 67526
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 11, 2026
