After graduating from high school in Gresham, NE with the class of 1941, she taught at rural schools in York, Polk, and Seward Counties. She then earned her BS degree from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln on February 1, 1947, and taught 1st grade in North Platte, NE during the 1947-1948 school year.
Following her marriage to Mark F. Gardner on June 7, 1948, in Lincoln, NE, she moved to Toledo, Ohio where she was an elementary teacher. In 1952 she and her husband moved to Sioux City, IA where she was an elementary teacher until 1959. Mildred lived in Sioux City for 33 years and was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church and PEO. She was a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout Den Mother for her children.
In 1985 she and her husband moved to Lincoln, NE, where she was active at Christ United Methodist Church, Kappa Phi, PEO, and delivered Meals on Wheels for Tabitha for many years.
Over the many years of her long life she enjoyed cooking and sharing recipes, sewing, gardening, crafting Easter eggs and inventive Christmas decorations, traveling with her family, photographing barns and hot air balloons, participating in Volkswalk, and many other activities.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years Mark F. Gardner, her parents and her brother Robert Pogue.
She is survived by daughter, Margaret Berentson of Papillion, NE; son, Dr. John Gardner of Terre Haute, IN; grandson, Adam Ziegler of Omaha, NE; granddaughters Sarah Brooks (Austin) of North Platte, NE; and Amy Ziegler (Evan) of Lincoln, NE; and great-granddaughter Reese Brooks of North Platte, NE.
A Celebration of Life will be at 2:00 pm, May 13th, at Christ United Methodist Church, 4530 A Street in Lincoln, NE. Private family interment in Gresham, NE.
Memorials to Christ United Methodist Church, Lincoln, NE or University of Nebraska Foundation.