Edith Mildred Krachmer, 99, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on April 30, 2018, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.

Millie, as she was known, was born March 29, 1919, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Frank and Edith (Hardesty) Ellis. Frank Ellis was a national union organizer, organizing the Austin P-9 Union and becoming its first president in 1933.

Millie enjoyed a long and enjoyable life. When she was younger, she worked at Hormel, as a waitress, and helped at Mitchell’s Tavern at times. She and Lawrence built and remodeled many homes in Austin, finishing one then starting another. They moved around Austin quite often. She and Lawrence were great dancers and very seldom missed a chance to dance on the weekends. She loved to travel and made many trips to Europe, Florida and other areas. In the last few years, she loved to visit with her family at her home every weekend, enjoyed playing cards with family and friends and occasional trips to a casino.

Millie is survived by her five children, Lanny (Karen) Krachmer, Janet (Christopher) Thissen, Janice (Steve Fuller) Perrigo and JoAnne Clark, all of Austin, and Melody (Mark) Handlen of Oceano, California, and Colorado Springs, Colorado; 12 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence; and her parents.

A memorial for family and friends will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at the Community Room of the Courtyard Apartments.