Milton George Liese

After a brief illness, Milton George Liese passed peacefully into Heaven with his family at his side on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the age of 97.

Milton was born on January 6, 1927, to Otto and Alma Liese on the farm east of Georgetown.  He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Alvin and Clarence.  He is survived by his loving wife, Betty; sons Charles Scheuer, Jr. and Jonathan Liese; daughter Jennifer Sanberg (Jason); grandsons Jackson and Brady Sanberg, and Jonathan Liese, Jr.; sister Grace Bulgerin; plus, numerous nieces and nephews.

Milt (as he was called) was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Walburg, Texas. He grew up knowing what hard work was helping the family run the farm, wasting nothing and stretching resources as far as you could.  Milt’s dreams and ambitions went beyond a career in farming; and after graduating from Georgetown High School, he enrolled in the School of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Texas-Austin. Before he could finish his first year, he got drafted into the U.S. Army right before the end of World War II.  Because of the timing, his army life kept him Stateside, where he did artillery training, land surveying, and culminated in the mounted (horse/mule) artillery in Colorado.  Upon being honorably discharged a year and a half later, Milt returned to his studies, first at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and finally back to the University of Texas-Austin, from which he was graduated with his BS in Petroleum Engineering.

Milt went to work for The Texas Company (Texaco), starting in the oilfields of South Texas, then to East Texas. He was promoted into the Houston office; and not too long after moving to Houston, he enrolled in the University of Houston at night and obtained his BS degree in Geology. He was also awarded membership in the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.  His career at Texaco was varied and rewarding.  He was involved in hands-on oil rig work, reservoir engineering, AGA gas reserves, computer services for the Producing Department, and ultimately high-speed broadband satellite telecommunications applications both locally and worldwide. Milt retired from Chevron (formerly Texaco) after 36 years of dedicated service.

Milt had numerous outside interests:  Boy Scout Master, Private Pilot, Real Estate Broker, Professional Engineer, Director Texaco Credit Union, Houston Hospice Social Worker, Member Williamson County Historical Commission, Life Member Williamson County Museum, Jesus Is Lord Mission Society Treasurer.  Being a faithful Lutheran his entire life, he served his Lord and his church in many ways:  usher, choir member, congregational president, president of a building committee, generous supporter of the mission of the church.

Milt had bought acreage off Andice Road (now Williams Drive) in the late 1960s. He always had big plans for building Casa Grande on The Ranch.  He met Betty in 1967, and they married in 1970 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Houston.  They were blessed with two children, Jonathan and Jennifer, along with Betty’s son, Charles.  Thanks to Milt’s wanderlust, the family traveled all over the United States, Canada, and Jamaica.  He and Betty took many trips overseas, including a trip around the world after he completed an assignment in Indonesia.  After Betty’s retirement in 1994 and a phenomenal three-week photographic safari to Kenya and Tanzania, they got busy taking home building courses at Houston Community College.  An architect was selected and plans finally developed for Casa Grande.  They moved to Georgetown in 1997.  Betty learned the fine art of chain sawing, and they went to work clearing the building site of cedars.  Milt was hands-on in the home construction and made sure everything was done properly.  Up until a week before his death, he was still puttering around outside taking care of things.  A special word of appreciation and thanks goes to Elaine Sotello for all her loving care and support.

A visitation will be held at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Milt will be laid to rest in Walburg at Zion Lutheran Church’s cemetery on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 10 a.m., followed by a celebration of his life in the church sanctuary at 11 a.m.  A fellowship meal will be provided afterward in the worship center gathering area and all are invited.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 6001 Farm to Market Road 1105, Georgetown, Texas 78626, Attention:  Home Fund.