Dorothy M. Miller

Dorothy M. Miller of Wichita, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Wichita Presbyterian Manor. She was born on September 19, 1932, in Hays, Kansas and was the daughter of Harry Earl Welch and Violet A. Gibson.

She attended junior and senior high school in McPherson, and was united in marriage to Arthur. F. Miller on January 1, 1949, in Newton.

She received her Bachelors and Master’s degrees from Northern Colorado University at Greeley, CO, leading to her career in education as an elementary teacher in several schools in Colorado, Emporia, Kansas and California, before retiring to Surprise, AZ. Following her retirement, Dorothy remained active playing bridge, Mahjong and learning to play tennis which she pursued competitively on a senior league in Surprise. In 2010, Arthur and Dorothy returned to McPherson to be closer to family, residing at The Cedars. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, and Chapter HI of P.E.O. In 2021, Dorothy moved to Wichita to be closer to her daughters.

She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur F. Miller; mother, Violet and step-father, Daniel Gibson; father, Harry and step-mother Pearl Welch; brothers and sisters-in-law, Don and Phyllis Welch and Bob and Geneva Welch as well as her parents-in-law, Lloyd and Opal Miller.

Survivors include daughters, Gay Henrikson-Ladwig (Phil) of Wichita, KS and Kay Miller Davis (Andrew) of Wichita, KS; son, Michael Fontaine (Terri) of Vancouver, WA; grandchildren, Jon Henrikson of Weatherford, OK, Jason Henrikson (Amber) of Farmington, MN, Alicia Houston (John) of Kansas City, KS, Justin Perkins of Wichita, KS, Trey Fontaine of Vancouver, WA, and Chloe “Lo” Fontaine of Portland, OR; and four great-grandchildren. Dorothy will also be remembered fondly by her four nieces, their spouses and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in the chapel at Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut St., McPherson, KS 67460. Burial will follow at McPherson Cemetery.  To view a loive stream broadcast of the service, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Memorial donations can be made to The Coach Miller Football Fund (through the McPherson County Community Foundation) or to the First United Methodist Church, McPherson in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.