Delmer Miller
Wed, 04/17/2024 - 10:55am
admin
Forever in our hearts, Delmer I. Miller, at the age of 95, passed away peacefully at the Hospice House in Rapid City on April 11, 2024.
Delmer was born June 2, 1928, in Custer, S.D. to Albert and Lillian (Beckhart) Miller. The family moved to Draper where he graduated with the class of 1946. In 1947, he followed his bride-to-be Doris Anker to Tacoma, Wash. where they were married on February 20, 1948. The couple then moved to Murdo and lived there until 1990 when they moved to the Black Hills. Delmer was a carpenter and worked with his brother Jerry, for Jerry Miller Construction. Before moving to the Black Hills, they owned Chuck’s Motel. He continued to work in construction after moving to the hills.
There were many enjoyable years of family camping trips that included travel all over the Western US. Over the years, he enjoyed sporting events that included motorcycling and snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, taxidermy, and some trapping along the White River. Delmer was a member of the NRA, the Jones County Sportsman Club, and the Amway Business. These memberships forged lifelong friendships that grew from the gatherings, business trips, and hunting ventures. After moving to Rapid City in 2007, Delmer enjoyed many more years of wonderful and cherished friendships.
Heights didn’t seem to bother him. There was an event where he climbed the Murdo Water Tower to rescue a worker who had fallen inside the water tank. His climbing also included simply climbing a 300 ft radio tower just to throw his hat.
Delmer was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Doris, his parents, and his brothers Al, Jerry, and Raymond.
Those grateful who have shared in his life and memories include his brother Don Miller and his sister Shirley Epple; son Alan and his wife Anna of Englewood, Fla., daughter Darlene and her husband Jim Swanson of Eugene, Ore.; six grandkids, Christina Miller, Jamie (Lee) Childers, Jesse (Lauren) Huntsman, Benjamin (Akari) Huntsman, Benjamin (Robyn) Swanson and Kelley Swanson and 17 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service beginning at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to any nature conservancy in Delmer’s name.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Delmer I. Miller, please call 888-297-2053.
