Retha M. (Muller) Adkins

Retha Mae (Muller) Adkins

December 24, 1937 – April 26, 2022

VISITATION:  Wednesday, May 4^th from 6pm to 8pm at the West Center Chapel.  GRAVESIDE SERVICE: Thursday, May 5^th at 3pm, Hillcrest.

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Retha was preceded in death by her husband, Abram (Skip) Adkins; her parents, Elmer and Thelma (Senteney) Muller; grandson, Christopher Miller; great-grandson, Caleb Hanlon; and brother Lyle Muller. She is survived by her children, Mark (Ann), Leslie (Jim) Miller, Wayne, and foster children Don (Colleen) Dyke and Kelly (Charles) Loomis. Also survived by ten grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and sister, Karen (Dick) Orndorf.

She and Skip were married for nearly 48 years. They were both born and raised in Laurens, Iowa, married young, and after a brief stint in Colorado when Skip was in the Army, made their home in Omaha. They raised their own children in the Cathedral neighborhood and lovingly cared for many foster children in their home on California Street. They were both founding members of the Omaha Cactus and Succulent Society and for years spent their weekends traveling to craft fairs where they sold items such as crocheted slippers.

In addition to her roles as a wife, mother, and foster parent, Retha also worked outside the home while her children were growing up. She held a variety of jobs ranging from caring for newborns in the maternity ward at Methodist Hospital to working in the accounting department at Clarkson Hospital.

Retha was a generous individual who spent her time making quilts and crocheted items for family and friends, creating special collections for each grandchild, and putting in hundreds of hours researching her own and extended family’s genealogies. These are gifts that will be treasured for years to come.

Because her birthday was Christmas Eve, the family always gathered for their Christmas celebration on that evening. She would always read a letter she wrote to the family detailing childhood stories, her shopping adventures, and her hopes for the coming year. The celebrations were epic! The younger members of the family were sent home with piles of presents bigger than they were. She was quite the savvy shopper and could take a small sum of money, hit the clearance sales, and make that money s-t-r-e-t-c-h in unbelievable ways.

Retha was a modest yet strong woman (with a surprisingly ribald sense of humor) and was a passionate fan of wrestling, game shows, and the Huskers (going so far as to have a Husker-themed bathroom!). She forged her own path and will be greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to have been included in her circle of family and friends.