Mildred Abernathey

Lansford

Mildred Arlene (Convis) Abernathey, 93, Minot, formerly of Lansford, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Bottineau Good Samaritan Society.

Mildred was born Aug. 8, 1932, in Hurd Township (Lansford), Bottineau County, to Bessie (Zietz) and Lester Convis. In 1933, the family moved to Missouri. Mildred attended schools in LaMonte, Neosho and Springfield, Missouri; West Burlington, Iowa; and LaPorte, Indiana. The family returned to Lansford in January of 1944, where she graduated from Lansford High School in 1950.

Mildred married Donald R. Abernathey Nov. 26, 1950, at the Lansford United Methodist Church. Children born to this union are Ava Ann, Guy LaRay and Jay Lester Abernathey.

Since 1950, Millie and Donald lived and farmed in the Lansford area. Over the years, Mildred was a member of the Lansford United Methodist Church, was active in the United Methodist Women, the Church Choir, taught youth Church groups and summer Bible School classes. Millie was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a Girl Scout leader. Besides caring for her family, Millie had many varied hobbies; traveling, sewing, gardening, crafts, calligraphy, making wedding cakes, writing poetry, oil, pastel and watercolor painting; and one of her biggest accomplishments, publishing four genealogy books.

Family: Daughter, Ava Ann Abernathey, Bottineau; sons, Guy Abernathey, Rehoboth Beach, Del., and Jay (Rhonda) Abernathey, Lansford; grandchildren, Breanna (Luke) Melgaard, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Ashley (Paul) Suckstorff, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Jared (Caitlyn) Abernathey, Lansford, Andrew Abernathey, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Emily (Nathan) Elhard, Lansford, and Kylie Abernathey, Lansford; great-grandchildren, Jayden, Braxton and Brynlee Melgaard; Beckham, Josie and Nash Suckstorff; Leif and Soren Abernathey; Christian, James and August Abernathey; Colson, Lennon and Bowden Elhard; sister, Margaret (Convis) Undlin, Lansford; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mildred was preceded in death by: Beloved husband of seventy-four years, Donald R. Abernathey, who passed away Nov. 22, 2025; parents, Bessie (Zietz) and Lester Convis; Ruth and William Abernathey; brother, Charles Convis; sister, Delores (Convis) Whitehead; and Douglas Trengen.

Funeral: 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Trinity United Church, Lansford.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at Trinity United Church, Lansford. Friends may also sign the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com.

Sharing of Memories Service (Open to the public): 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at the church.

Burial: Lansford Cemetery, Lansford.

Memorials: Memorials preferred to the American Heart Association (American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692), or the American Cancer Society (American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741)

(Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)

Published by The Minot Daily News, February 2, 2026.