Millie Ribeiro, 89

Millie Crosswhite Ribeiro, 89, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Sandpoint, Idaho. Her life celebration memorial service will be held this summer 2023.

Millie was born Dec. 2, 1933, in El Reno, Okla., to Lewis and Alta Crosswhite. She grew up in Careywood after her family moved to Idaho, where she attended primary school at Careywood schoolhouse and subsequently graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1952.

She continued her education by attending Lee College in Cleveland, Tenn., and earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a minor in theology. Millie taught school locally at Washington Elementary and at the Coolin School in Priest Lake, Idaho. Shortly thereafter, she championed her missionary vocation through the Church of God ministry by gladly taking an opportunity to serve in the Mission field abroad.

In 1960, she moved to South America, Brazil for mission work and played a pivotal role in opening a Bible Seminary — Seminário Evangélico da Igreja de Deus (SEID) in Goiânia, GO Brazil, where she met her lifelong husband, Silvio Ribeiro. Millie married Silvio on Sept. 7, 1968, in Goiânia. They continued their mission work and pastoring in Brazil while starting a family. Millie was an English language professor at Faculdade de Filosofia Bernardo Sayão (college) in Anápolis, GO Brazil from 1981 to 1995; while eloquently fulfilling the role of a wife, mother, pastor's wife, missionary and professional with unwavering and exemplary resilience.

Millie’s vision and drive for the mission field, second to none; demonstrated by the sacrifice of undertaking a tremendous work abroad, specifically in Brazil, a time period spanning 56 years in total. Thus, impacting many lives before returning to Sandpoint in 2018 due to health reasons. Millie, a renaissante of the faith, member of New Life Church in Sandpoint had a passionate heart for Jesus and people, but especially children. She also enjoyed gardening, music, and sewing.

She is survived by her husband, Silvio Ribeiro, in Brazil; four children, Tania Dos Santos of Renton, Wash., Pas. Wesley (Sigi) Ribeiro of Sandpoint, Alberto (Jodae) Ribeiro of Sandpoint and Mark (Victoria) Ribeiro of Spokane; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one brother, Herman (Cindy) Crosswhite of Spokane.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, David and Paul Crosswhite, and daughter-in-law Elisangela Ribeiro.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Millie’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.