Minnie, born June 24, 1922, was the middle child of Jacob and Margaretha (Maurer) Rathgeber of Goodeve, SK. She attended Shappert School and St. Peters Lutheran Church in her youth. After marrying Derrick Bilton in 1945, she resided in Melville until 2008. This is where she raised her three girls and worked for many years in the dietary department at St. Paul Lutheran Home. Minnie spent countless hours tending to her garden. Her hobbies included knitting, crocheting and doing needlework.

In 2008 Minnie moved to Regina and became a resident at Queen Victoria Estates. For health reasons in 2014, she was required to move, firstly to Parkside Extendicare and subsequently to Regina Lutheran Home, where she passed during an afternoon nap.

Minnie was predeceased by her parents; her husband Derrick in 1953; a grandson Murray in 1975; all of her 17 siblings, most of their spouses and 13 nieces and nephews. She is survived by: her three daughters, Geri (Hal) Gibbens of Edmonton, Paulette (Doug) Jaques of Yorkton and Nancy (Hans) Baumann of Regina; 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; 4 sisters-in-law; and 34 nieces and nephews.