Obituary of Mildred Saffer

Mildred Eloise Coulson was born at home, 9 ½ miles North of Bovina, on June 15, 1919, and passed away at Hugo, Colorado on May 30, 2012 of natural causes. She was 92 years old. Her parents were Alta Iva Lucore Coulson and Earl Clifton Coulson, both of whom were the children of area homesteaders. Half a dozen years of failing crops caused this young family to sell their new home and land. They then rented a section of land four miles southeast, called “The Graham Place”. Earl dug a well and built a comfortable sod house. There Mildred could ride to school with neighbor Eileen Smith. Brother Robert (Bob) was born on the Graham place, and when he was old enough to begin school, the family obtained a bank loan to buy a section of land 3½ miles north of Arriba. Sister Marvyl rounded out the family, and all three were then bussed to school in Arriba. Mildred graduated from Arriba High School, class of 1936. She moved to Denver to attend Barnes Business School. She lived in a basement apartment owned by Dr. Struthers. Mildred worked as a maid for the Struthers family. There she earned her room and board, plus $5.00 a week to help pay her tuition. A Mr. Clayton Brace, General Manager of the Denver office of the National Biscuit Company, called Barnes and requested a graduate to fill a vacancy that his office had for secretary. Barnes had no graduates available, so Mr. Brace then asked that they send him their best student. Mildred was recommended for the position. She immediately quit her Barnes training to become Mr. Brace’s secretary, a position she held until she married her high school sweetheart Dale Saffer, August 20, 1941. The newlyweds moved to Canon City, where Dale was manager of Anderson Morgan Food Store. About one year later, they decided to return to Arriba and rented the Blain Ashton farm, nine miles north and one mile west of Arriba. They farmed there where Earl and Dean were born. After Dale’s father Nathan passed away, Dale and Mildred arranged to buy the Saffer home place 20 miles north of Arriba, where the two added daughter Bette Jo and lived together for over 60 years until Dale’s passing on February 3, 2002. After living alone on the ranch for approximately 5 years, Mildred became a resident of Bee Hive Assisted Living in Hugo for 5 years, where she felt comfortable and secure. After suffering a stroke, she moved in January of 2012 to the Lincoln Community Nursing Home in Hugo. Mildred and Dale farmed and ranched North of Arriba and were very active in family, church, and community activities. Being married to the oldest Saffer brother and living on the home place brought with it the pranks and jokes, during courtship and early marriage, of a house full of younger brothers filled with the lively Saffer wit. Mildred thrived on this as well as the responsibilities of hosting numerous family gatherings and opening their home to younger Saffer brothers who lived and worked with the young family in the early years of their marriage. Their home was always open to extended families, nieces/nephews and friends who came to work or spend time on the farm in the summer. Mildred excelled in making these times memorable with impromptu campouts in the creek, picnics, swimming in the cement tank, campfires, and many other special events. Mildred and Dale were active members of Bethel Church, North of Arriba. They were active youth leaders for a number of years and encouraged many in Christian Endeavor activities. Mildred taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, played piano and was always available to pitch in where needed. Community activities found Mildred involved wherever her children were involved. Much of her effort focused on 4H clubs and activities at the local and county level. She successfully encouraged and challenged her own children and many others to excel at county, state, and national levels of competition in 4-H. In partial recognition of their leadership in 4-H, Dale and Mildred were chosen to be Grand Marshalls at the Lincoln County Fair in 1994. In later years of her life, Mildred became the repository of much family history and artifacts. In the days prior to internet research, she developed extensive genealogy charts from letters and conversations with living relatives. These have proved amazingly accurate and valuable in extending family genealogies today. Mildred was preceded in death by her husband Dale, her parents and grandson Gregory. Mildred is survived by her brother Bob and wife Shirley Coulson of Tucson, Arizona and sister Marvyl of Pleasanton, California, and husband Wallace Schreiber of Greeley, Colorado; sister-in-law Mary Ann Saffer of Akron and Nina Saffer of Flagler; brother-in-law Glenn and wife Joyce Saffer of Flagler; sons Earl and wife Mary Ann of Arriba, and Dean and wife Donna of Arriba; daughter Bette Jo and husband Lee Fisher of Limon; seven grandchildren - Gary & wife Karla Saffer, Kevin and wife Erika Saffer, Vicki and husband Scott Herrera, Terry and wife Renae Saffer, Michelle and husband Curvin Martin, Justin and Janel Fisher; fourteen great grandchildren – Derek and Dori Saffer; Nathan and Kendyl Saffer; Amanda and Kyle Herrera; Carson, Clayton and Collin Martin; Talor, Kayleen, TeriAnne, KaCee Jo, and Trina Saffer and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.