Nancy Ellen Millar

Nancy Millar passed away peacefully at Bethany Riverview in Calgary, Alberta on October 19, 2026, aged 90 years. Nancy is survived by her husband of 69 years, Bruce, by her children Rob (Johanne Boucher), Alison Bennett (Geoff) and Sheila (Chris Fagan), by cherished grandchildren Marla Ross (Mark), Rory Bennett (Shinobu), Amelie Millar, Kate Millar and Morgan Fagan, along with great-grandchildren Jackson, Clara and Toma, and by brother Ken Sorensen (Helen), sister Susan Morash, and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.

Nancy was born June 29, 1936 at Peace River, Alberta, the oldest of five children of John and Margaret Sorensen. She was raised on a farm homestead in the polyglot settler community of Dixonville, Alberta. Nancy gamely shouldered pioneer and depression hardships alongside her siblings, cousins and neighbors, taking pride in the growing community, and winning awards for her school marks. Steeled by hard times, and determined to prove herself, she struck out to finish high school in Grande Prairie, AB, winning more awards, and then went on to obtain a teaching certificate from the U. of Alberta.

Nancy met her husband Bruce Millar while at high school in Grande Prairie, and they married in 1957 in Peace River. Nancy and Bruce made their way to Red Deer, AB in 1959, where they made a home and had three children: Rob in 1959, Alison in 1961 and Sheila in 1968.

Nancy’s professional life began as a school teacher in Red Deer, but she soon forged ahead to launch a long and productive journalism career by authoring a regular column for the Red Deer Advocate called ‘A Woman’s Whirl’, and there became the first ‘Women’s Page Editor’. From the beginning, Nancy pointedly and with good-natured wit voiced the stories of women and ordinary people in the growing, evolving communities of the day, for an appreciative readership.

Nancy and the family moved to Calgary in the 70’s, where she undertook radio and TV broadcasting and production, notably with CFAC (the ‘Nancy Millar Show’) and then as a news reader and interviewer with CBC radio and TV in Calgary. In the 80’s, Nancy co-authored or published several memorable and popular cookbooks celebrating pioneer and small-town cookery of Alberta and the West.

Nancy tirelessly advocated, in private and professionally, for respecting family ties and community history, and for honouring the legacy of our forebears. Her later authoring and publishing work saw her visit and comb through countless museums, libraries and archives, big and small, as well as conducting hundreds of interviews. In so doing, she uncovered the wonderful human stories that filled her books, including her much-appreciated “Remember Me as you Pass By” and “Once Upon a Tomb” compilations of narrative histories based upon the surprising stories lying behind the epitaphs encountered in graveyards. Nancy was a proud “Tombstone Tourist”.

Nancy became a founding member and leader of the Famous Five Foundation (celebrating the occasion of the historic “Persons Case”). Books, speeches and even a one-woman stage play were among her contributions to this now nationally-recognized milestone event for women in Canada.

Throughout her life and career, Nancy’s readers, listeners, interviewees, fellow-historians, friends and family were touched by her energy and conviction, and her spirit will dwell in all our hearts.

Nancy will be interred in a private ceremony at Queen’s Park Cemetery in Calgary. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.