Mildred was born January 26, 1917, daughter of Danish immigrants John & Marie (Sorensen) Nelson, in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, Diocese of Sioux Falls. She entered the Congregation in August 1979 at the age of 62, entering the novitiate in August 1980 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sister Mildred made her first vows in Milwaukee, January 1, 1982; on November 15, 1986, Sister Mildred made her Final Vows in Milwaukee, in the presence of her children.

Sister Mildred gained most of her education in the “school of experience”. She learned much, living on a farm and being responsible at various times for the many chores of farm life. When her husband was no longer with her to raise their four children, Sister Mildred worked in a restaurant and eventually opened her own café business. All these “schools” taught her much about responsibility and the work ethic. She was a Lutheran in her early life, but later with her children was received into the Catholic Church. When Sister Mildred, as a widow, was volunteering in our Tekakwitha Nursing Home, Sisseton, South Dakota, she met Sisters Phyllis and Rita Faust. This is where her vocation to SDS began. Sister Mildred wrote: “I saw in them something that I wanted for myself. They seemed to express joy and happiness in their work at the nursing home.”

During her years in religious life, Sister Mildred served as cook and seamstress in various houses: St. Mary’s Nursing Home, Queen of Apostles Convent, and Salvatorian Heights, all in Milwaukee and

St. Mary’s Convent, St. Nazianz, Wisconsin. She also did volunteer work in Tekakwitha Nursing Home, Sisseton, South Dakota and in the laundry at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus, Milwaukee. Sister Mildred also resided at St. Pius East Convent as part of the Formation Community.

Anyone who knew Sister Mildred saw her special gentleness and concern for others. She was a deeply prayerful person, finding her peace and joy in scripture and the Eucharist. Most of all, she never ceased to be a MOTHER, with all that means.

In her last years, Sister Mildred lived in the Salvatorian Sisters Residence, Milwaukee. Here she became a loving and concerned companion for Sister Elizabeth Oliver and Sister Segolena Bohner. The three of them met in the chapel each afternoon for Vespers, praying much for our Congregation and the needs of our world.

In the Spring of 2010, she began to show signs of failing health and eventually was unable to retain solid food. On July 27, as Sister Mildred began her final journey home to God, the sisters began keeping prayerful vigil with her. A final gift from God to Sister Mildred was that over the past weeks she welcomed dozens of family members, relatives and friends and had a wonderful and holy opportunity for goodbyes.

Sister Mildred died peacefully on Friday, August 20, 2010 at age 93 and professed for 28 years. May the Risen Savior now be her joy as she lives in His presence forever.

Sister Mildred will be deeply missed by her community, the Sisters of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians) as well as by her loving family. She is survived by a son, John Lotzer, daughters, Leona Kremsing, Lois (Marvin) Madson and Laura Rothman; step-son, Jerry (Darlene) Lotzer; step-daughter, Joyce Valnes; step-daughter-in-law Gayle Lotzer; brother, Harry Nelson; sisters, Edith Denekemp, Della (Gerald) Struckmen and Alice (Laverne) Marotz; sisters-in-law Mary Nelson and Opal Nelson; grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sister Mildred was preceded in death by a son, Vernon Lee Smith and other relatives.

Visitation was at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Camus Chapel, 3800 N. 92^nd Street, Milwaukee, WI on Friday, August 27, at 9:30 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery on Monday, August 30, at 9:30 a.m.