Mildred Lillian Davenport Boethel, age 103 years and 8 months, of Hallettsville, Texas, passed away Monday, August 28, 2023, in Beehive Homes Assisted Living Center of Spring, Texas. where she had been residing since December 2022.

Mildred was born on December 23, 1919, in Vienna, Lavaca County, Texas to Albert and Mary Jane Davenport.  She grew up living and working on a farm with her family during a time when she did her school homework under a kerosene lamp and drew water from a well with a bucket and a rope.  She graduated from Hallettsville High School in 1937.

On November 29, 1939, Mildred married Arthur William Boethel at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hallettsville.  They remained in Hallettsville for a brief time before moving to Kemah and then to Houston where they raised their three sons Arthur, Donald, and Herbert.  She enjoyed babysitting grandchildren, sewing, and spending time with friends from church each weekend.  During the summer she would take her family on their annual summer trips to the Texas Hill Country to camp and swim in the Frio River.

Mildred worked various jobs following the birth of her third son until retiring in 1978.  While in Houston, she and her husband Art were active members of Park Place Lutheran Church from the early 1940s, until leaving Houston after their retirement.

In 1979 Mildred & Art build a home south of Hallettsville near the Williamsburg settlement and moved back to Lavaca County.  At this time, they joined the congregation of St. Peter Lutheran Church.  While in Hallettsville, she enjoyed her flower gardens, crocheting afghans for her grandchildren and church fund raisers, canning pickles from their vegetable garden, playing dominoes with friends, and hosting yearly holiday dinners for her family.  She remained in her country home following the death of her husband of 58 years until 2016, when she moved into Hallettsville.  She stayed in Hallettsville until just before turning 102 years of age when she decided to give up driving and move to Spring to be closer to her family.

Mildred is survived by: her sons, Donald Boethel of Tomball, Herbert Boethel (Micky) of Spring; six grandchildren, Karen Cummings of Cypress, Cassandra Milks (Matt) of Cypress, Christine Lovelace of Houston, Russell Boethel (Sue) of Sugarland, Kristen Boethel of Spring and Amanda Kasowski (Justin) of Conroe; ten great-grandchildren, Lauren Martini, Jacob Milks, Allison Milks, Alexander Lovelace, Allison Lovelace, Andrew Lovelace, Kelsey Minyard, Ryan Boethel, Hailey Boethel and Wyatt Kasowski; and two great-great-grandchildren, Luke Martini and Kade Martini.

Mildred was preceded in death by; her parents Mary Jane Morley Davenport & Albert Davenport, husband Arthur William Boethel, son Arthur Winston Boethel, sister Ruth Davenport Smith, brother Donald Davenport, and daughter-in-law Marilyn Kay Boethel.

Funeral Service: 12 noon, Saturday, September 9, 2023, at St. Peter Lutheran Church of Hallettsville; Visitation starting at 10 am. Pallbearers: Darrell Boethel, Russell Boethel, Alex Lovelace, Andrew Lovelace, Matt Milks, Justin Kasowski. Officiants: Presiding Rev. Jared Stillions and Assisting Rev. Herb Beyer. Memorials (in lieu of flowers): St. Peter Lutheran Church or donor's choice. Burial: Hallettsville City Cemetery.