Obituary of Norma Faye Peterson McMillan

After a life time of loving service to family and to others, our beloved Norma Faye Peterson McMillan passed away on November 28, 2018.  She was born in Lehi, Utah, on August 4, 1933, to Fred and Lily May Roberts Peterson.  She was the youngest of their children.  Her siblings were: Odell (Pete) Peterson, Glen (who died as an infant), Wayne and June.  She adored her brothers and sister and loved their spouses and had a special spot in her heart for her nephews and nieces.  She graduated from Lehi High School.  She enjoyed sewing and said she would often stay home sewing new clothes while her mother and friend Clara Clements went to the movies because she was too afraid of the MGM lion that roared at the beginning of the movie to go there.  After graduating high school, she moved to Logan and worked at the Bluebird Café and then worked in Ogden.

She met Eddie McMillan on a blind date and on August 21, 1953, became Mrs. Edward Lee McMillan.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Provo Temple.  He was bedfast with Multiple Sclerosis for 11 years and she cared for him in their home the entire 11 years by herself until his death on December 11, 1981.  During their marriage, they lived in Lehi, Utah, Albuquerque, New Mexico, El Dorado, California and American Fork, Utah.  Norma had been a homemaker, but after Edward died, she went to work first at Thrifty C Gas Store for a short time and then at the Utah State Training School for ten years retiring in 1996.  However, even though she would say she didn’t work out of the home, she was an Avon Lady for 60 years, but it was more than a job: it was an opportunity for her to make life-long friends rather than just have customers.  Her family has been an Avon Family – giving and receiving Avon gifts all their lives.  For the past seven and a half years, she has been a devoted Senior Companion visiting Senior citizens in the community who needed a friendly face, a visit, a trip to the store, etc.—and these were all people younger than she was!!!!

She was a member of the Church of Jesus of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings in the church from nursery leader to Relief Society teacher.  She was the Relief Society President in the Heritage Care Center in American Fork and she loved serving the sisters living there in their final days.  It was a special joy for her to be able to visit her mother-in-law, Lillias McMillan, while Lillias lived there before her death.

She loved to serve and help others.  The day before she died, when asked who she loved she replied, “Everyone.”

She had four children: Kim (Joe) Robinson, MarySue (Randy) Wong, Fred (Sindy) McMillan, and Barbara (Rick) Strain. Grandchildren are: Brandie Harvey, Chris McMillan, Mandie Hess, Misty Mott, Travis Strain, Trudy Nielsen, Jared Strain, Stephen Wong and Jenny Wong, 31 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.

She is survived by her children and their families.  She was preceded in death by her parents and spouse, her son-in-law Joe Robinson, her grandsons Justin Robinson and Farry McMillan, and a great grandson Dayton Nielsen.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 12 Noon in the Anderson & Sons Mortuary, 49 East 100 North, American Fork.  A viewing will be held Tuesday from 6-8 PM and on Wednesday from 10:45 – 11:45 AM at the mortuary prior to the services.  Burial will be in Lehi City Cemetery. Please share a memory at andersonmortuary.com.