Madge "Billie" Minear, 90, a resident of The Dalles, Oregon, died at a local care faciity on February 17, 2011.  She was born November 9, 1920, in Webb City, Missouri, the youngest of six children to William L. and Lucy E. (Bettis) Higgins.  She grew up in Missouri, moving to California as a teenager and graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1939.  She then completed two years of school at Pasadena City College.  She married Foster Lonnie Minear (SPHS '38) in South Pasadena on October 15, 1950.

Billie was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and prior member at Valley Baptist Fellowship and Yucaipa First Baptist Church in Yucaipa, CA.  She enjoyed painting, and showing hospitality to everyone she could by opening her home or sharing a meal.  She was a Reading Buddy at Sonrise Academy, and leader in Women's Ministries at her church in California.

She is survived by her daughter, Joyce Lorraine Minear-Stone and her husband Bob Sone; her three grandchildren, Megan, Heather, and Sean Stone; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Dalles Chronicle, February 22, 2011