Mildred "Millie" Lois (Eisenbeis) Dover

Mildred was born on September 3, 1925 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to Rudolph and Mary (Nipper) Eisenbeis. In 1928, at the age of 3 years, Millie and her mother Mary traveled by train to Los Angeles, CA because Rudy had gone out west prior, looking for work, and sent for them to join him. Little did this Eisenbeis family realize the “Great Depression” was looming just ahead in 1929. The family made the best of it though, because Rudy being an excellent, self-taught carpenter, found a union job utilizing his skills at the studio lots in Hollywood, building movie sets. The family started growing around this time and Millie became big sister to brother Jay (1929), sisters Phyllis (1932), Gloria (1934), and Rochelle (1939).

By this time, silent films were out of date and there wasn’t a need for as many carpenters; so, her dad decided to go into business selling unfinished furniture, in a small shop in North Hollywood, with attached living quarters in the back. Mildred was already 14 and attending Catholic Girls High School and being the oldest she would come straight home from school to work with her dad, so her mother could start dinner in the adjacent quarters. This continued until 1944 when Rudy decided Hollywood was not a place to raise his family. He purchased land in Eugene, Oregon; packed his family and moved north.

Mildred was just starting her college years, and was eager to become an Oregon Duck. She graduated from the University of Oregon in June, 1948 with a Sociology Degree, becoming a social worker. It was in Eugene, that she met the handsome, love of her life, LaMonte (Monte) Dover at a Catholic sponsored young people’s mixer. It was love at first sight and after only 4 months, Monte proposed to Millie on Christmas, 1950 and they were married at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Eugene on April 21, 1951. They honeymooned driving up old Hwy 99 (I-5 wasn’t built yet), stopping in Portland and then headed west on Hwy 18 to the Coast. Monte liked the big city of Portland and the newlyweds moved from Eugene and began to build their life together; which included 7 children, in their first 11 years of marriage.

Having seven children, Millie still made time to volunteer with the church in altar society, school fundraisers, parish activities, and babysitting at other parishes so that young moms could participate in bible studies. In the early 1970’s they were very active in the Marriage Encounter movement. She always loved sewing for her 5 daughters, making Easter dresses each year or p.j.’s and bathrobes for Christmas. The girls did tap dancing for a few years in the late 60’s early 70’s and she stepped right up to help sew costumes for the yearly dance recitals. She belonged to a few different Bunco groups and because of the lasting friendships she made, bunco night was always marked on the calendar. Pinochle and dominoes were other games that she and Monte enjoyed with family and friends.

In 1968 Millie started working election boards with Multnomah County and in the succeeding 40+ years managed to recruit her husband, her brother and sister-in-law, even her daughter to also work every two or four years during election cycles. She loved the friendships she made and the importance of her civic duty. Family vacations were always fun camping trips, as well as a trip to Disneyland and into Canada one summer. In their retirement years, Millie and Monte continued their love of travel, whether to Europe when their son Danny was in the US Air Force stationed in Germany or to the Holy Lands with both of their mothers along; or by car around the United States. For their 50th wedding anniversary the destination was Australia and New Zealand.

Millie was a wonderful loving grandma and great grandma with the nickname “GG”. Her smile would light up a room and she loved to laugh with family and friends. Millie is preceded in death by her husband of 58 years Monte who died in 2010, her parents Mary and Rudy, her sisters Rochele, Phyllis, and her brother Jay. She is survived by her sister Gloria (Eugene, OR); seven children, Diana (Stephen) Welters, Daniel (Jeff McGlinchy) Dover, Debra Peerenboom, Darrell (Janice) Dover, Denise (Dave) Thornton, Doris (Mike d.2021) and Dana (Ben) Galle; 17 grandchildren, 32 great - grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren, along with many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral will be at St. Clare’s Catholic Church, in Portland with Rosary at 11am, followed by a funeral mass at 11:30am. Private interment at Skyline Memorial Gardens, Portland, OR.

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