Bartena L. Stevens

August 19, 2016 was not your ordinary day. It was a very special day for Bartena. It was a day she had looked forward to all of her life. She left her earthly friends and family to join her husband Leon in Heaven and to feel the grace of her beloved Jesus. A devout Christian, Bartena placed her love for Jesus above all else. She lived her life as a true Christian in every sense of the word. Bartena was born July 26, 1948 in Lancaster. She was the daughter of the late Louise A. and Lloyd W. Millhouse. She was married to the late Leon E. Stevens for 43 years. As a young woman she held several part-time jobs but her life’s work was to be one of the best homemakers she could be, and she excelled at it. She and Leon bought their home only 10 days before they married and remained in it their entire lives until Leon passed in October, 2015. Due to illness, Bartena then moved to Manor Care where she currently resided. Bartena loved her Manor Care family. She felt safe, secure, and loved there. Of course, there were times when she didn’t think twice about telling them she didn’t like what was on the menu on that particular day. Her health improved quite significantly while being a resident there. She loved the daily activities and the friends she shared her days with. The friendships she made there were a very important part of her life. She anticipated new adventures every day. She became a “social butterfly” while residing there. A whole new life experience opened up for her. Things were difficult at times for Bartena but she persevered. She tried her best at all she did throughout her life. She loved drawing, crafting, and reading her Bible daily. She loved her dog Skippy and talked about him often. She was a member of Mill Creek Bible Church for many years and loved attending weekly when she was able to. Her Church family played an extremely important part of her life and we want to thank them for the love and support they have given Bartena throughout the years. Bartena is survived by her brother, Bryant L. Millhouse and his wife Patricia, her niece Brandi Henry and husband Brian and Brandi’s daughters, Julia and Sylvia. Having no children of her own, Bartena especially loved Brandi very dearly. She leaves behind family members in Lewistown, PA, where her grandparents founded the Hartley’s Potato Chip Company…Aunt Betty Nale, cousins, Virginia Sweigart, wife of Roger, Barbara Crotty, wife of Edward, Linda Nale and their extended families. She was thrilled to have been able to visit her family just recently and spoke about the wonderful time she had. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Bartena’s Graveside Service at Laurel Hill Memory Gardens, Columbia, PA on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 11:30 A.M. with The Rev. Phil Good officiating. Family and friends are requested to meet at The Groff Family Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., 528 West Orange Street,(corner of West Orange and Pine Streets), Lancaster, PA 17603 on Wednesday by 10:15 A.M. to honor her journey to the cemetery. To know Bartena was to love her….she will be sorely missed. “SOAR HIGH TENA”