Miriam Collins, age 90, of Cambridge died December 4, 2016 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, December 8th with a visitation 1 hour prior at our Cambridge location. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Miriam A. Collins was born March 12, 1926 in Shenandoah, Iowa to Herbert and Mary (Desh) Thomas. She was raised and attended school in Shenandoah. Miriam attended North Central Bible Institute where she would meet her future husband. On July 22, 1947 she married Carl Collins in Shenandoah. They made their home in Massachusetts until moving to Isanti in 1962. They made their home in the Cambridge/Isanti area since that time. Miriam was a member of Harvest Christian Center in Isanti and she was employed by the Scotsman in Cambridge for 35 years. Miriam was known for her wedding cakes and she participated in several Christmas Boutiques. She was an active volunteer in the community including the food pantry. She also served as cook for a youth group mission trip to Mexico when she was 70 years old. She was always active in church work and loved her family activities.
Miriam passed away on December 4, 2016 at CrossPointe Crossing Gables West at the age of 90 years, 8 months and 22 days. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Carl; son, Charles; grandson, Jason; two brothers and three sisters.
Miriam is survived by six children, Thea (Russ) Troolin of Pine City, Marilyn (Chuck) Kackley of Coffeeville, Kansas, Bill (Janna) Collins of Haslet, Texas, John (Janae) Collins of Cambridge, Walter (Tammy) Collins of Haslet, Texas, June (Larry) Juday of Mora; 20 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and by many other relatives and friends.
After working with Miriam for about 20yrs I will miss her humor and her calmness in the face of my crazy actions in the Scotsman office, but most of all I will miss her carrot cake which she never gave me the full recipe for. I even have missed her pounding me in the shoulder when I misbehaved while trying to get the Scotsman ready to publish.
Thanks Miriam for your friendship and counsel.
Miriam was one of a kind! She was the matriarch of our office at the Scotsman/ Isanti County News for many years. She was everyone’s Gramma, always taking care of us, body and soul! She never was and never will be replaced! She was truly a blessing and will always have a special place in our hearts!
What a wonderful lady Miriam was. Growing up with her down the road from us and then later in life going to the same church has given me many warm memories of her that I will always cherish. I am so sad that we will not be able to attend her service as we are in Maui. Sending prayers and hugs to all of you.
I met Miriam years ago when I started my job at the Scotsman. She took me under her wing and taught me so much. She was famous for her carrot cake. Every January she invited the entire staff to her house for a meal, which was usually curry chicken. We had to come in shifts, since it was on a work day. I attended weddings, birthdays, graduation open houses. Her door was always open. She never had a reason to pound me, (I don’t think), unlike Jack. She was a true friend.
I met Miriam 40 years ago when I started working at the Scotsman. She loved to cook and bake. 33 years ago she made our Wedding Cake and several kinds of little sandwiches. She was a very special lady!
I met Miriam when I started working at the Scotsman in 1975. She was a great mentor and friend. After I left ECM Publishing we continued to spend time together quite frequently. She was a kind and generous soul with a wicked sense of humor. When God gave her lemons, she made lemonade ( and carrot cake). RIP.
At the Scotsman ( Isanti County News), Miriam was the glue that held us all together, at the very least, the carrot cake that kept us all satisfied. Always had a smile and gentle word. Kind to everyone. God bless her as she rests in peace.
It’s sad to lose a trusted friend who was admired and loved by so many. What a wonderful life Miriam lead for the benefit of all of us who knew her. I think of you often, Miriam.
Miriam was a special lady whom I admired very much. I met her at the Scotsman and she was a big part of our work “family” back then. She always had a warm smile and a good sense of humor. Miriam’s carrot cake and curry dinners were always a highlight of our year! She was truly a blessing to all of us who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Some folks just have a way of making those around them feel welcome and totally at ease. Miriam was just that kind of person. She always made me feel as though I brought something important into her life when, in reality, it was just the reverse. She was the very heart and soul of the Scotsman and a caring mentor to each of us that entered her world. God bless your memory, Miriam.
Miriam was such a blessing to those around her, she touched so many through her cooking and baking. I remember her telling me how proud she was of me at high school graduation, Miriam will be missed.
My memories of Miriam go back 40 plus years through the church we both attended…..she was always a gracious, kind and beautiful woman inside and out…..thank you for the memories and the example you were to us then young Christians……God Bless your memory…..