Millie was born May 31, 1934, in Centerville Township the daughter of Napoleon and Mary (Kiessel) Belanger. On September 6, 1958, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Lake Leelanau she married Elmer Kalchik who survives.

Millie started school at Lake Leelanau St. Mary’s and graduated from Marywood Academy in Grand Rapids with the Class of 1953. She decided not to become a nun and earned her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certificate in 1958 and it was during this time that she met the love of her life, Elmer.

She started her nursing career at Munson Medical Center. Elmer’s career had the family moving from Northern Michigan to Ohio, Manistee, and Mt. Pleasant. Her children remember their younger childhood homes being the neighborhood hangout place for the local kids. Millie would make Kool-Aid and treat the kids to cookies and snacks.

The family moved back to Elmer’s family farm in Gill’s Pier in 1971 and Millie took up her nursing career again at Leelanau Memorial Hospital in Northport where she spent decades caring for the elderly at the long- term care unit. She was a dedicated nurse, not wanting to leave the side of an ailing patient before the family could arrive so they were not left alone, often staying without being paid.

Millie had a kind heart and was a quiet, humblewomanoffaith. Shewasa soft-spoken kind person. She loved her cats and dogs and had a green thumb for outdoor gardening. She enjoyed the outdoors and would go on long walks aroundthefarm. Millielovedtotake care of the lawn. Her work was important, but she and Elmer made time to travel to many destinations with family and friends. The family extends their deepest thanks to the wonderful owners and staff of Culver Meadows Senior Living for their compassion and care of our dearest Millie. Millie is survived by her loving husband of sixty-five years, Elmer; three children, Steven (Kathy) Kalchik, Marjorie (Allen) Steimel, Sandra Kalchik; her siblings, Sister Rose Mary, Clara Bufka, Paul (Anne) Belanger, Edward (Darlene) Belanger, a sister-in-law, Louise Belanger; her grandchildren, Mike (Marissa) Kalchik, Brian Kalchik, Jenn (Dave) Byers, Nick Steimel, Jason ( Jenny) Steimel, Erica Jones; her great grandchildren, Mikey, Matt and Emily Kalchik, Ayla Steimel, Ethan and Madison Jones.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings, Agnes (Ernie) Steimel, Bernard (Betty) Belanger, Margaret (Sylvester “Bess”) Walters, Leona (Ralph) Walter, Leo (Madelyn) Belanger and Samuel Belanger.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, January 5 with the Rosary to be Prayed at 7:00 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. The mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 6 with the family greeting friends at 10:00 a.m. at. St. Wenceslaus Church of Gills Pier. Burial will follow in St. Wenceslaus Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to St. Wenceslaus Church, 8500 E. Kolarik Road, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 or to Culver Meadows Senior Living, Inc. at 1661 N West Silver Lake Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685.

Please share memories and condolences with the family at www.martinson.info Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.