Mildred L. House

Mildred L. (Laverentz) House went to be with her Lord and Savior, on Sunday morning, January 5, 2025. Her passing comes just 25 days shy of her 102^nd birthday.

Mildred was born on January 30, 1923, in Hubbell, Nebraska, Thayer County, to Thomas C. and Emma L. (Meyer) Laverentz.  She graduated from Hubbell High School, and then moved to Hebron, rooming with a friend, and working as a telephone operator. During WWII, she also worked as a telephone operator for the local Army Airforce Base in Bruning, Nebraska, which was one of her favorite memories. One evening, she answered the door for her roommate, who was preparing to go out on a “date” to a local basketball game. The “date” was standing at the door. He took one look at Mildred and took her to the game instead! With her jet-black hair and deep blue eyes, this handsome “date” was smitten with her. He was none other than Ralph House, the pastor of the Lutheran Church at the local town of Carlton. After declaring that she would never marry a minister, they tied the knot on February 11, 1947, and they raised four daughters, along with pastoring churches in Grand Junction, Colorado, and towns in Ohio, including: Willowdell and Versailles, Loudonville, Clyde, New Washington, and retiring in Bucyrus.

Mildred worked in the admitting department at Fremont Hospital, then retired from Bucyrus Hospital. She was always active with women’s circles at church, choir, and taught Sunday School, and over the course of decades, had made many friends at the various churches that she and Ralph served.  She had many hobbies, which included knitting, crocheting, and baking.  She made so many different types of cookies at Christmas that her family lost count! She loved to collect recipes and try them out on her family. She also had a beautiful flower garden, and especially loved her rose garden.

Mildred’s daughters were blessed to have godly parents. The grandchildren loved coming to her house where they knew she would be cooking and baking for them. They also knew where her candy stash was at, and grocery shopping with grandma was special, because they could get what they wanted.

She is survived by her daughters, Marilyn (Dave) Bennett of Clyde, Barb (Ron) Mraz of Omaha, Nebraska, Cindi (Terry) Arbogast of Westerville, and Ronda (Steve) Robey of Ashland; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; two nephews; and one niece.

In addition to her parents, Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Pastor Ralph House, on September 27, 1985; her siblings and their spouses, Don and Mary Laverentz, Lois and Marvin Bodtke, and Ralph and Donna Laverentz.

Mildred’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Crystal Care Nursing Center of Ashland and Gentiva Hospice for their outstanding, professional, and nurturing care of Mildred.

Family and friends are welcome on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 from 11 am-12 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 147 West Forest Street, Clyde, OH 43410. A procession to McPherson Cemetery in Clyde will immediately follow the conclusion of the visitation at 12 pm for graveside services and burial. Rev. Dr. Tim Hubert will officiate the services.

Because of Mildred’s dedication to the churches Ralph pastored for many years, memorial contributions may be made to the respective church of the donor’s choice.

Care for Mildred and her family is being provided by the Penwell Funeral Home in Shelby. Condolences may be made on the funeral home’s website (PenwellFuneralHome.com) or their Facebook page Facebook.com/PenwellFuneralHome).