Millard B. Cress, 96, Humboldt, died Saturday, October 25, 2008, at Arrowood Lane Residential Care Facility.

He was born Oct. 21, 1912, in Galesburg to Johnnie A. and Della M. Baker Cress. When he was 6 months old, the family moved to a farm seven miles southeast of LaHarpe. In 1920, they settled on a farm northwest of Humboldt. He graduated from Humboldt High School in 1930.

On May 28, 1933, he married Fern E. Tomlinson at the home of her parents southeast of Humboldt. She survives.

The Cresses have made their home around Humboldt all of their lives. They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on May 28, 2008, with a public reception.

He farmed, raised beef cattle, and traded and hauled cattle and horses before he retired. He and Fern loved to camp and spent 16 winters in Texas.

He was a member of the Humboldt United Methodist Church and had served for 15 years on the board of directors of the Humboldt Co-op and the Rural Electric Association, and 28 years on the Production Credit Board including 19 years as president.

Other survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Maynard and Jeanice Cress, Humboldt; a son-in-law and his wife, Coy and Jane Allen, Wichita; two grandchildren and their spouses, Karl and Jill Allen, Humboldt, and Brenda and Ross Hicks, Winfield; four great-grandchildren, Kyler and Kolbyn Allen and Sam and Isaac Hicks; a brother and sister-in-law, Harlan and Nieta Cress, Humboldt; a cousin and his wife, Don and Doris Cress, Council Grove; and 25 nieces and nephews

He was preceded by a daughter, Gayla Jo Allen; two brothers, William Ross and Johnnie Allen Cress; a sister, Audrey Stinson; and two half-sisters, Ruby Havlovitz and Nelle Wyman.

Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Humboldt United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at DeWitt Cemetery west of Humboldt under the direction of Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the Humboldt United Methodist Church.

Contributions to Southern Care Hospice, Arrowood Lane Residential Care Facility or Humboldt United Methodist Church may be left at the funeral home.