Mildred Mae Greenhalgh, our wonderful mother and beloved wife, grandmother, and great-grandmother left this earth peacefully at her home on the afternoon of August 2, 2024 at the age of 89. Ms. Millie, as she was called by our dad was born June 9, 1935 in the coal mining town of Sugarite, New Mexico to Clair and Frances Baker. She was the youngest girl and second to youngest child. She had four sisters, Audree, (Denver, Colorado), Bernice (West Jordan, Utah), Jeanine (Cyprus, Texas), Joann (Rock Springs, Wyoming), and Clair (Denver, Colorado).
In her young life, Grandpa Baker’s work took him to Rock Springs, Wyoming where mom graduated from high school. Following her graduation from Rock Springs High School she was employed as a secretary for a large equipment company that serviced the mines in Sweetwater County.
Ms. Millie fell in love with a young carousing coal miner named Steven Ned Greenhalgh whom she met at a dance at the Smolinski Dome in Rock Springs and was later married to him on February 11, 1956. They had a wonderful life and marriage together and our dad treated her as a queen. They spent most of their life together in Las Vegas, Nevada where our father worked as a mechanical engineer for the Air Force, was the Operations Analyst for Operation Red Flag, and built spec. homes in the Lone Mountain area to provide a living.
Our mom was always quiet in nature but was a great cook and host to the many friends and family that would come to visit her. She loved to travel and go camping in their RV., attend Polka Festivals, listen to Country and Western music (Hank Williams was her favorite.), she belonged to a bowling league, and enjoyed drinking O’Doules while cheering on her beloved Dodgers. Mom loved to spend hours decorating and putting icicles on her Christmas tree. She would spend weeks leading up to Christmas putting them on so the tree looked beautiful every year. She also loved to go Christmas shopping for the grandkids to make sure that they had the things that they needed and wanted. Rarely did mom go shopping at any other time. Mom was meticulous at keeping her house clean. In fact, later in her life when she could not walk she was asked, “If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?” she replied, “I wish I could wash baseboards in the house.”
The last 35 years of her life were plagued with severe back problems. The last 20 years of her life did not allow her to stand up straight or allow her to do what she was capable of previously. Her final years were restricted to a wheelchair. Our father took great care of her and was always at her side until his health failed him 9 years ago. Mom loved dad dearly, and now will be able to fill his dance card from top to bottom at every future Polka Festival.
Ms. Millie is survived by one sister (Jeanine), and her two children, Steven Ted Greenhalgh (Charlene) of Cedar City, Utah and her beloved daughter Linda Wimer (Greg) of Los Molinas, California. She leaves behind 11 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Her kindness and sweet nature will be missed by everyone.
We will have a Celebration of her life in Rock Springs, Wyoming at Santa Fe Southwest Grill on August 31st at 2:00.
We wish to thank Zions Way Hospice (Becca and Hilda) and her daughter-in-law Charlene for the precision care and assistance that they provided in mom’s final weeks.
Final arrangements are under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. To leave online condolences, please visit www.mortuary.org.