Mildred Borengasser

Mildred Elizabeth Lowe Borengasser, of North Little Rock, died July 31, 2019, at home of Alzheimer’s with family by her side. She was 98.

Milly was born Oct. 13, 1920, in Helena, Ark., the sixth of nine children born to the late Gentry Solomon and Mary Cagle Lowe. She was preceded in death by her eight siblings: William, Gentry Jr., Edwin, Lenna Mary, Frances Conner, Dorothy Shields, Tommy and Forrest.

She was the first child born in Arkansas after the family moved to Helena from Mississippi. She graduated from Helena High School in 1938 and attended two years at Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway, now the University of Central Arkansas.

While in college, she spent a weekend at her roommate’s parents’ boarding house in North Little Rock. There she met Roman Herman Borengasser, of Altus, who was renting a room. They married Aug. 25, 1940.

The couple lived in North Little Rock for 64 years until Roman’s death Feb. 20, 2005, except for a few years during World War II when Roman was stationed in the Navy in Farragut, Idaho. After her children were in school, she worked as a bookkeeper in Roman’s CPA firm until they retired. Milly continued living there until 2015 when Alzheimer’s disease required she receive more care. She spent time with her children in Borden, Indiana, and Crawfordville, Florida, before moving back to North Little Rock in May.

She is survived by her six children: Mary Ann Caruso (Mark) of Potomac, Maryland; William Borengasser (Aiwei) of Little Rock; Elizabeth Caldwell (Mike Stanley) of North Little Rock; Debora Richardson (Morgan) of Crawfordville, Florida; Julie Zuefeldt (Dan) of Hurst, Texas; and John Borengasser (Diana) of Borden, Indiana.

She is survived by 16 grandchildren: Aaron Borengasser (Carrie), Alex Borengasser, Beth Caruso, Christopher Caruso, Tara Caldwell Bond, Elizabeth Richardson Duke (Cody), Daniel Richardson, Rebekka Zuefeldt, Gretchen Zuefeldt Holmes (Sean), Stefan Zuefeldt, Lydia Borengasser, Stephen Borengasser, James Borengasser (Christy), Rachel Borengasser Kolis (Dan), Anna Borengasser and Sarah Borengasser; and two great-grandsons: Silas Borengasser and Theodore Duke.

Milly was a member of Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock for 69 years and her faith was important to her. She was devoted to her family, giving her time and love to help care for her children, grandchildren, friends and community including delivering Meals on Wheels.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Aug. 15 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Aug. 16 at Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock. Burial is at Rest Hills in North Little Rock.