Christine Mae Mills

The loving memory of Chris Mills will live forever. Christine Mae (Olsen) Mills passed away on 6/18/2026 at her home in Chadron, NE.

Christine was born in the Pontiac Hospital in Pontiac, IL on July 10th, 1961, to Donald and Marguerite Olsen. She was raised in Dwight, IL with multiple brothers and sisters. Growing up she loved animals and was involved in organizations like 4H and FFA.

Shortly after she graduated from Mazon High School in Mazon, IL she met and married Thomas Mills. They moved to Douglas, WY where they raised their 3 children: Thomas Wayne Mills (Tommy), Rebecca Lynn (Mills) Erk (Becky), and Alison Nicole Mills (Nikki). The 2 of them divorced in 1994.

In 2008, Chris met her partner Roger Sanford and moved to Chadron, NE in 2009. She enjoyed being on the ranch where she could be around horses, watch the birds out the window, and look at her pretty flowers.

Throughout Chris’s life she had multiple jobs, but her passion was in helping others. She spent many years working in senior living facilities where she ended her career after 17 wonderful years at Prairie Pines Lodge in Chadron, NE.

Those who knew Chris knew she never just sat down and relaxed. You could find her out in the middle of the prairie staring at the ground looking for rocks. She would also drive to Wyoming to watch her grandkids play a sport and loved every minute of it.

Christine Mills is survived by her partner, Roger Sanford of Chadron, NE, and her kids: Tommy (June) Mills of Douglas, WY with their 2 boys Keagan & Aydan, Becky (Jay) Erk of Thermopolis, WY with their 2 kids CJ and Ary, Nikki Mills of Douglas, WY with her kids (Dogs & cat) Gus, Dock, and Sylvester, Doug (Janice) Sanford of Chadron, NE, and Lori (Jason) Brown of Dwight, KS with their 2 kids Kaycee and Cody.

She is also survived by her brothers William Olsen of South Wilmington, IL and Donald Olsen of Verona, IL, her sisters Lois Pickens of Golden Valley, AZ, Dawn Mize of Dwight, IL, and Marjorie Hansbrough of Morris City, IL along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Chris was preceded in death by her father and mother Donald & Marguerite Olsen, younger brother Walter Olsen, and sister Sheila McCully.

Chris’s love for life, kind heart, contagious smile, warm hugs, and optimistic personality will be missed by all that knew and loved her.

Her honorary pall bearers are Aryanna Erk, Cody Brown, Kaycee Brown, Keagan Mills, Christopher (CJ) Erk, and Aydan Mills.

In lieu of flowers, Chris has requested a donation be made in her memory to the Monument Health Cancer Care Institute, 353 Fairmont Blvd, Rapid City, SD 57701.