Mildred Flora Whitford

Mildred “Millie” Flora Mitchell Whitford crossed the veil between this mortality and the presence of Our Lord at 7:45 AM, Tuesday, 23 July 2024. She passed away in the comfort of her home after a valiant battle with several medical problems. Mildred was born 23 June 1935 in Manistee, Michigan, the third child of Joseph Brown Mitchell and his wife, Leola Mildred Botsford. Leola may be remembered to friends in Freeport as Leola Smull.

Mildred spent her early childhood years in Michigan. After the death of her father in 1941, she, along with her mother and two older sisters, moved to Belvidere, Illinois to be near her mother’s family. It was here that she fell in love with a beautiful Irish setter and coincidentally became life-long best friends, and sister in-law, with the owner, Ruby Jewel Lindaas. Mildred attended Belvidere schools until the time of her marriage to Kenneth Dewayne Lindaas on 16 December 1950 in Belvidere. She later married Archie Junior Thomas. They moved to Alabama. After a short time there she returned to northern Illinois. She has been in Freeport since the summer of 1969.

Mildred married Ray Lincoln Whitford on 16 May 1988. He was a devoted husband who gave her the peace and stability she so desperately sought. Together they purchased the home in which she loved entertaining her sizable family and her numerous friends and from which she has embarked on the most glorious part of her eternal sojourn.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents and husband, a son, Gordon Lindaas, two grandchildren, two sisters, Margurite Mitchell and Grace Rex, and her younger brother, Bobby Smull. Mildred is survived by six of her seven children, Jo-Ellyn Gibson of Hollywood, Florida, Stan Lindaas (Raquel) of Aurora, Illinois, Paul Thomas (Candy) of Freeport, Larry Thomas (Karen) of Freeport, Debbie Groves of Freeport, and Steve Thomas (Debbie) of Salisbury, South Carolina. She is also survived by 34 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren, and 11 great great grandchildren.

Mildred was a devoted member of St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Catholic Churches in Freeport, Illinois.

Most folks in the Freeport area will have known Millie through her service to them as the excellent cook at Holiday Inn/Ramada Inn and at 9 East. She always created wonderful food served with sincere loving interest in the folks she served, and in their families. Millie also worked at Mary’s Mantle and loved helping everyone and, of course, she really loved the visiting. Your acquaintance with our mom may have been through her church experience. Thank you for being her friends and support for all of these years. You all were dear to her.

Many thanks to Northern Illinois Hospice, especially the tender compassionate service provided by Lori. They have been so helpful in this end-of-life experience, providing care and comfort to our mom. Thank you so very much.

The Funeral services are provided by Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home. The visitation will be at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Wednesday, 31 July 2024. Visitation: 9:00 -11:00 AM, Funeral Mass: 11:00 AM, burial will be next to her husband Ray Whitford in Oakland Cemetery, Freeport, Illinois. A live stream of Mildred's funeral mass can be viewed on St. Mary's Catholic Church Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/St-Mary-Catholic-Church-Freeport-IL-100070275125253/