Mildred Arlene Dillie's Obituary
Mildred Arlene Dillie passed away peacefully in her home in Forsyth, IL on
March 7, 2026.
Mildred was born at home on the farm in Todd County, Minnesota, on July
25, 1934 to Adolph and Edna (Carter) Juvrud. One of three children, she
attended a one-room country school through eighth grade, and then
graduated from New York Mills (MN) High School in 1954. After earning a
bachelor’s degree from Morehead State University, in Moorehead, MN, Mildred
began a career teaching in elementary schools first in Fargo, ND, then St. Louis
Park, MN, followed by work in US government schools on Adak Island, AK, and
then in Bremerhaven, Germany.
While in Germany, she met and married a fellow teacher, Donald K. Dillie,
in March, 1961; they enjoyed 59 years of marriage until his death in July, 2020.
Returning to the states in 1962, she and Don settled in Decatur where she taught
first at Oak Grove Elementary School, and then later taught for many years at St.
Thomas School until it closed in 1991.
She had decades of active volunteer service with Meals on Wheels, Red
Cross blood drives, Friends of the Decatur Public Library book sales, and various
groups within Grace United Methodist Church which she and Don joined in 1962.
She also volunteered for many years at the Church’s thrift store, the Economy
Shop.
Mildred always enjoyed travel, including many summer vacations around
the county, trips to Europe, and around 40 different trips with Roads Scholars
that she and Don took after they both retired. She was a life-long reader,
keeping up with current events, always looking for new authors to try, and
attended several book discussion groups; she enjoyed cooking, jigsaw puzzles,
and, in earlier years, sewing, needlework, and various crafts.
She is survived by her three children, Tom Dillie (Karen Miller) of Canton,
OH; Steve Dillie of Wheeling, IL; and Mary (Eric) Gdula of Duluth, MN; two
grandchildren, James Miller and Libby Gdula, and numerous cousins, nieces,
and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Dillie, her
parents, and her brothers, James Juvrud and Roger Juvrud.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Midwest Mission (https://midwestmission.org) and the
Forsyth Public Library. The family would like to thank the team at DMH Home
Hospice for their attentive and compassionate care during Mildred’s final days
at home.
Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home is providing cremation services for Mildred.
The family will hold an open house/celebration of life on Sunday, March 22, from
2:00-4:00 pm at the Clubhouse at Hickory Point Villas, 670 Marion Ave. in Forsyth.Mi
What’s your fondest memory of Mildred?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mildred?
Share a story where Mildred's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mildred you’ll never forget.
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