Daniel G Mills

Obituary of Daniel G. Mills

It is only fitting that our dad died on Memorial Day, May 30, 2022, as he spent his career in the service of others.

Daniel G. Mills was born in Seattle on January 4, 1934.  He was the son of Jack and Margery Mills. He lived on a farm on the Wishkah River as a young boy, then moved to Seattle to a five acre farm at 200th and Wallingford.  He was quite the prankster as a teenager and told numerous stories of his escapades!

Dad joined the Coast Guard in 1950 and served on the Icebreaker Northwind in Point Barrow, Alaska and also served in Japan.  He was discharged in 1953.  He married Patricia Norman in 1953 and began work at Kaplan Printing.  He was at this job until joining the State Patrol in 1957.  They had four children; Victoria, Dawn, Michelle and Daniel. We moved numerous times; each time dad was promoted, we made a move! Dad served in the State Patrol in Seattle, Zillah, Edmonds, Spokane, Evanston, IL, Spokane (again!), Poulsbo, Olympia, Spokane (yet again!) and back to Olympia.

Dad was a lifelong learner and encouraged this in his four children.  He attended the Northwestern University Traffic Institute, Evanston IL in 1968-69, received a Bachelor of Arts from Forth Wright College of the Holy Names in 1974 and a Master’s in Counseling and Guidance from Gonzaga University in 1977. 

Dad married Betty Massey in 1980.  They enjoyed travel, playing cards, gardening, reading, golf and spending time with family and friends.  While living with Betty in Olympia, Dad was promoted to Deputy Chief in January of 1984 and he retired in 1985.  Following his retirement, he became a real estate broker in Gig Harbor.  Dad and Betty lived in Gig Harbor, Palm Desert, CA and ultimately landed in University Place.  

At the end of his life, what mattered most to dad was spending time with his children and grandchildren.  He was an attentive listener and enjoyed hearing what was happening in the lives of his family.  And he loved hearing if the Mariner’s won!!

Dad is survived by his wife Betty, his daughters Dawn (Len), Michelle (Grant) and son Daniel (Michone).  He is also survived by Betty’s children Pam, Russ (Lily) and Mitch (Dana).  He has numerous grandchildren, of whom he was exceedingly proud and also numerous great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased in death by his parents, Jack and Marge, his daughter Victoria (Ruben) and grandson, Tony Massey.

Dad’s life will be celebrated with military honors June 17, 2022 at 2 pm at Haven of Rest Cemetery in Gig Harbor.

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