Mildred "Millie" Hicks, age 99, of Rochelle, died Sunday, June 13th, 2021 at the home of her son in Cape Coral, FL.

Millie was born Christmas Day, December 25th, 1921, to Ivan and Victoria (Hopper) Bumpus in rural Bonnie, IL. She graduated from Mt. Vernon High School and attended Southern Illinois University. She married Orloff Hicks of Bonnie, IL on June 1, 1941. They celebrated 71 years together, until Orloff's death in May, 2012.

During World War II, she worked as a bookkeeper for an ordinance plant in St . Louis that made torpedos. The couple moved to Rochelle in 1948 when Orloff was hired to be principal of Central School. Millie worked as a bookkeeper for Mosteller's Lumber Yard in Rochelle until 1955. For most of her life she was a full-time homemaker, mother of three and traveling partner with her husband.

She was a member of the Rochelle United Methodist Church for 72 years. She was an officer and long time member of the Rochelle Women's Club.

Millie traveled with her husband in all the lower 48 United States, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, all regions of Europe, China, Japan, Africa, Egypt, Australia, South America and the South Pole of Antarctica. Her other hobbies included golfing, gardening, bird watching, bridge, visiting with her children and eating at the Butterfly. She was an enthusiastic St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. In December, 2020, after breaking a hip, she moved to Cape Coral to be cared for by her son.

She is survived by one son, James Hicks, of Cape Coral, FL; one daughter, Janice (Robert) Rutt of Fairfield, Iowa; Joyce Manning, who was her best friend and like family; six nephews and three nieces; and many dear and close friends in Rochelle.

She was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter, Drenda Jean Krainak; son-in-law, Christopher Krainak; her parents; two brothers, Loran Bumpus and Gene Bumpus; and one sister, Maxine Ambrey.

A memorial service will be held 11 am Monday, June 28, 2021 at the Rochelle United Methodist Church, 709 4th Ave. with Pastor Glen Stewart officiating. Visitation with family will be at the church from 10 to 11am prior to the funeral service. Interment to follow at Lawnridge
Cemetery in Rochelle. A memorial video and online guest book will be available at www.ungerhorner.com.