Mrs. Millie Soderberg, of Weeki Wachee, Fla., and part-time Aspen resident, died Feb. 22, 2008, at her residence after a protracted illness. She passed away in the loving arms of her only son, Aspen resident Danny Soderberg. Danny, his wife, Linda, and children Ashley and Logan express their heartfelt sorrow, for she is missed deeply. Millie, born of Polish immigrant parents, was born in Chicago Heights, Ill., and moved to Florida in 1992.

Millie had a great entrepreneurial spirit. Long before it was chic or socially acceptable, Millie was a pioneering businesswoman, literally building a fortune, starting with her “egg money,” to owning a chain of laundromats to acquiring vast real estate holdings in a number of states. Millie began her working career as a flight attendant with America Airlines at age 19. She was a gymnast with the Polish Falcons, a working mom and the first woman to serve on a professional association of Laundromat owners.

Millie’s husband of 49 years, Richard A. Soderberg, passed just months before, in April 2007, and brother, Frank Lassa, passed on Feb. 15, 2008, merely days before Millie.

“Mom was like a movie star,” Danny states proudly. Her truly magnetic personality won the hearts of everyone with whom she became acquainted. “It sure is tough to lose three such important people in such a relatively short period of time.”

Danny adds, “My dad became very ill in 2006, and I virtually moved to Florida to be with my folks. Mom was in poor health too.” After a number of months at his side, Dad passed away in April. It wasn’t too long afterwards that Mom’s health began to worsen. She continued to fight for months, but in February, it just became too much.

“After being gone for nearly a year and a half, I am back at home. After 25 years of doing business here in the valley, a guy really finds out how much of an impact we can have on each other’s lives. I want to take a moment to say many humble thanks to all of you in the community who have blessed me and my family with your prayers and kind words.”