Beth Marie Mills

Beth Marie Mills died on January 6, 2022 from complications following a stroke two years earlier. She was born in Farmington, Maine on March 26, 1966 to Thomas Mills and Laurel Lothrop Mills. Beth’s family moved to Neenah, Wisconsin when she was age 10. She was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome at age 11, and was later re-diagnosed with Chromosome 1p36 Deletion Syndrome. Beth lived in various group homes, until she found her permanent home with Empowerment Living Services. There they met each of her specific needs, loved her, and served her well until her last breath. Her family is forever grateful for the support and care they offered Beth.

Beth’s journey was not easy, but she was a real fighter and lived an amazing, fun-filled life. She was employed at Lakeside Packaging Plus, and spent her free time doing the many things she loved. Her favorite thing was bowling, both watching women’s bowling videos and at the alley herself. She always strove to be “The Big Winner” and tried to con her bowling partners out of a “Bowling Prize” when she won. She enjoyed being active, especially swimming or bicycling. Beth was also a music lover, whether it was listening to music on her tape-set, strumming along on her guitar, or swaying her hips to the beat. She especially enjoyed listening to the Beach Boys, John Denver, and Kenny Rogers. When she wasn’t listening to music, she was likely watching her all-time favorite show, Emergency. She liked to travel, especially “flying up away” to visit family in Maine and Texas. Her photo albums were filled with pictures of her boating, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and camping. Beth had an amazing sense of humor, and anyone who met her immediately loved her and her infectious giggle. She had a kind and gentle heart with her beloved baby doll Edie and with all her nieces when they were young. When asked to describe Beth, her friends and family said she was a true miracle, overcoming obstacle after obstacle. They described her as a special soul, a sweet lady, one of a kind who left behind many wonderful memories. Beth’s life was chronicled in poetry through the eyes of her mother in the books “Hidden Seed” and “Rumor of Hope” by Laurel Mills.

Beth is survived by her father Tom (Donna) Mills, Trophy Club, TX, stepmother Lynn Koss, Neenah, sister Marissa (Rick) Neil of Grapevine, TX, step-sisters Kelly (Adam) Elliott and Kari (Jared) Lemoine of Keller, TX, step-brother Joshua (Megan) Dedering of Shelby Township, MI. She is further survived by her nieces Jensyn Polner, Lindsay and Rachel Neil, Isabella Lemoine, and her nephew Tripp Elliott.

Beth was preceded in death by her mother Laurel Mills and step-brother Jeff Koss.

If you would like to celebrate Beth’s life with a donation, please consider a donation to 1p36 Deletion Support & Awareness (http://www.1p36dsa.org/donate-now) or a charity of your choosing.