Official Obituary of
Bernice May Millen
December 6, 1931 ~ July 27, 2019 (age 87) 87 Years Old
Bernice Millen Obituary
On July 27, 2019 Bernie went to heaven to join her husband, son and grandchild. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Bernie was the middle child of seven children born to Ruth and Bernard Farr in Modesto California. She was raised in a strong Christian family and joined her siblings singing in a sextet throughout the area.
Bernie graduated from Modesto High in 1949 and worked in the New York Stock Exchange before starting her family. It wasn’t long before she found herself a single parent of 3 young children.
In 1957 Bernie was introduced to a young banker, Gene Millen. He welcomed the instant family and they were married February 15, 1958. As Gene moved up in his position in the banking industry the family spent time living in Oroville and Gridley before moving to Atwater. Bernie worked in the family store, Farr’s Department Store, in Modesto until it closed in 1981.
Although Bernie was unable to bear more children she and Gene were able to touch the lives of many foster children by becoming foster parents. Throughout her life, Bernie found other ways to be involved in the community. She not only sang with the family, she also enjoyed being a member of a singing group out of Modesto called Mother’s of Note. Bernie also became involved in the leadership of the Merced Christian Women’s Club and traveled throughout the state giving her testimony.
Bernie is survived by her children, Shar Herrera (Adrian); Denise Rallis (Dave); Chris Millen; daughter-in-law Brenda Millen (Butch), 13 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Gene Millen, her son Butch Millen, and her grandson Travis Millen.
A Memorial Celebration will take place at Central Presbyterian Church, 520 W. 20th St., Merced, on Wednesday, August 7th, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bernie can be made to MercedCASA.org to help continue her desire to help children in Foster Care.
Memorial Service
Central Presbyterian Church
Wednesday, August 07, 2019
11:00 AM
520 W 20th St.
Merced, California 95340
Bernie was the middle child of seven children born to Ruth and Bernard Farr in Modesto California. She was raised in a strong Christian family and joined her siblings singing in a sextet throughout the area.
Bernie graduated from Modesto High in 1949 and worked in the New York Stock Exchange before starting her family. It wasn’t long before she found herself a single parent of 3 young children.
In 1957 Bernie was introduced to a young banker, Gene Millen. He welcomed the instant family and they were married February 15, 1958. As Gene moved up in his position in the banking industry the family spent time living in Oroville and Gridley before moving to Atwater. Bernie worked in the family store, Farr’s Department Store, in Modesto until it closed in 1981.
Although Bernie was unable to bear more children she and Gene were able to touch the lives of many foster children by becoming foster parents. Throughout her life, Bernie found other ways to be involved in the community. She not only sang with the family, she also enjoyed being a member of a singing group out of Modesto called Mother’s of Note. Bernie also became involved in the leadership of the Merced Christian Women’s Club and traveled throughout the state giving her testimony.
Bernie is survived by her children, Shar Herrera (Adrian); Denise Rallis (Dave); Chris Millen; daughter-in-law Brenda Millen (Butch), 13 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Gene Millen, her son Butch Millen, and her grandson Travis Millen.
A Memorial Celebration will take place at Central Presbyterian Church, 520 W. 20th St., Merced, on Wednesday, August 7th, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bernie can be made to MercedCASA.org to help continue her desire to help children in Foster Care.
Memorial Service
Central Presbyterian Church
Wednesday, August 07, 2019
11:00 AM
520 W 20th St.
Merced, California 95340
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bernice May Millen, please visit our floral store.
Services
You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Bernice May Millen
© 2026 Wilson Family Funeral Chapels. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility