Ola Mildred (Millie) Rexroat-McDonald, age 99, of Hot Springs, SD, passed away on June 28, 2017, at Michael J. Fitzmaurice Veterans State Home in Hot Springs.

Starting in 1923, Millie attended public school in Wynona, OK. Millie graduated from St. Mary's Episcopal Indian School, in Springfield, SD in 1932. She took college classes at State Normal in Chadron, NE and State Teachers' in Springfield, SD. Millie got a scholarship to the University of NM in 1935, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in 1938. Millie took post-grad courses in engineering at State Teachers' in Flagstaff, AZ and School of Mines in El Paso, TX.

Before going into the military, Millie had government clerical jobs in SD, NM, AZ, TX and Washington, DC. In 1943, a job in DC with the Army Ground Forces got her military career started, leading to her service as a WASP, about which much has been written. After WASP duty, she worked as an air traffic controller in San Antonio, TX and Albuquerque, NM, finally settling into a two-decade stint at Santa Fe Municipal Airport.

After retiring in 1973, she produced fine original artworks in a variety of media and techniques. Millie briefly re-joined the Civil Air Patrol, in which she had been active in the 1950's. Millie served two terms as President of the North American Indian Women's Association (NAIWA).

Millie is survived by her son, Forest McDonald of Oakland, CA; Niece, Gabrielle Pourier-Johnson of Hot Springs, SD.

A memorial services will be held on 10:00 a.m., July 7, 2017, Michael J. Fitzmaurice Veterans State Home, Chaplin Morris Nelson and Chaplin Tom Peacock will be officiating. Interment will be at a later date at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.