Vernette McMillan

Memorial Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 3:00 PM at Victoria Creek Cemetery North of Victoria Springs Park. Memorials are suggested to the Anselmo Fire Department or Victoria Creek Cemetery.  A register book may be signed at Govier Brother Mortuary. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com 

Vernette (Glidden) McMillan, 81, of Milburn, NE, passed away on June 6, 2024, at Kearney Regional Hospital. Born August 26, 1942, in Dunning, Nebraska, she was the first child of Verne and Betty Glidden. Vernette grew up in a close-knit family where togetherness was a way of life, filled with holiday dinners and weekend hunting and fishing trips. As the oldest grandchild, she often took on the responsibility of looking after the younger ones during these family outings. She attended school in Dunning, graduating in 1960. During high school, she worked at the Highway Café, saving money to attend secretarial school in Omaha. After completing her training, Vernette worked in Omaha for two years before returning to the Sandhills. It was at a local dance where she met James J. McMillan, whom she married in June 1963. Together, they had two children: Thomas Joseph and Jolene Marie. 

She devoted her life to raising her children and embracing the ranching lifestyle on the McMillan family ranch. Jim and Vernette occasionally enjoyed traveling including trips visiting family on the West Coast, tracing the Lewis and Clark Trail, attending bull sales to Montana, a few trips down to Texas, among others.

Vernette was an active member of the Anselmo VFW Ladies Auxiliary and later the Broken Bow VFW for 60 years, where she held officer positions, including Treasurer for many years. She was particularly dedicated to parade floats, making and delivering cookie plates to veterans, and selling poppies.

The neighborhood collectively agreed that Vernette was an excellent cook, once even being featured in the local Custer County Chief newspaper. Feeding extra guests was customary, given that visitors frequently scheduled their stops around mealtime. She prepared three meals a day for her family and hired hands too. 

Vernette also had a passion for science fiction movies, Nebraska Volleyball, and turquoise and silver jewelry, adding to her vibrant personality. 

Vernette derived immense joy from her grandchildren's activities, rarely missing a sporting event, music concert, or livestock show. She frequently attended her grandchildren's football, volleyball, and basketball games, wrestling tournaments, and track meets, as well as weekend softball tournaments, often with another grandchild in tow. She never missed the Dawson and Custer County Fairs, where she watched her grandchildren compete in 4-H and FFA projects.

Vernette's surviving family include her children, Thomas (Lisa) McMillan of Milburn and Jolene (Jerry) Wiggins of Gothenburg, her sister Leila (Butch) Schultz of Tok, AK, sister-in-law Helen Glidden of Taylor, NE, grandchildren Janae (Zachary) Thomas, Jacey (Matthew) Person, James Russell McMillan, BaiLee McMillan, Samuel McMillan, and great-grandson Dexter Thomas. She was preceded in death by her parents, her spouse James J. McMillan, and her brother Frank Glidden.