Rodney Miller

Williston

Rodney L. Miller, 64 of Williston, passed away due to injuries sustained in a farm truck motor vehicle accident, north of Willison, on Saturday evening, September 7, 2024.

His Funeral Service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, at West Prairie Lutheran Church, West of Williston. Interment in St. Lukes Cemetery will follow.

Visitation will be at Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, on Friday, September 13, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and for the hour preceding the service at the church on Saturday.

There will be a family service, open to the public at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 13, at West Prairie Lutheran Church.

Rodney Lynn Miller was born on July 6, 1960, to Ferdinand “Fred” and Ruth (Johnson) Miller, at Williston, North Dakota. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up in Hebron Township, on the Miller Homestead Farm. Rodney was raised, and baptized, and confirmed attending St. Luke’s, and West Prairie Lutheran Church. He attended Pioneer, and Round Prairie Schools, grades one through eight, followed by Trenton, ND, High School. He was Class of 1978, THS, graduate. He was active in choir, football, 4-H, and Farmers Union. He attended International Music Camp, Epping-Springbrook Bible Camp, Farmers Union Camp, and Boys State. Rodney continued his higher education at UND-W, receiving two degrees in Agriculture and Business. He was proud to be the mascot for the Lady Teton basketball team.

After college graduation, he followed his passion of farming, on the Miller Family Farm, with his father, his brother, Floyd, and his nephew, Casey Miller, and never missed a harvest. Floyd and Rodney rented their first farmland in 1983, dba F & R Miller Farms. Their motto was “The bills go to Fred and Ruth, the checks go to Floyd and Rod.” He took great pride in his farming skills and in his short retirement, was a skilled and great mentor, reference, and teacher to his nephew, Casey, and the farm hired hands. Along with farming, he had a successful and rewarding 25 plus years with Enbridge Pipeline. Enbridge was a second family to Rodney with lifelong friends.

Rodney was an active member and council member of West Prairie Lutheran Church. He took great pride in the upkeep and care of St. Luke’s Cemetery serving as the chairman. He was looking forward to the 45th Church Anniversary in 2025, and was on the planning committee. He was a member of Williston Moose Lodge #239, We Wanna Cure Relay for Life Team, Williams County Farmers Union, and a stockholder in Founding Farmers Restaurant, in Washington, DC.

Rodney enjoyed music and singing, driving around checking the fields, golfing, excursions to the casino, having friends in to watch football and hockey games, and NASCAR racing on TV. He loved to see family and friends, meeting friends for a meal, playing whist and pinochle, and daily phone chats.

Rodney was a great person! He was a friend to everyone he met. His wit, generosity, sincere kindness, clever jokes, and his sneaky new vehicle purchases to surprise us! He had a special place in his heart for his nieces and nephews, and so enjoyed spending time with them and sharing his “toys!” He and his pickup were always available to help his siblings, friends, and relatives. He was generous with paying it forward, paying camp fees for youth, and he always purchased quilts at the Bible Camp Auction, which numerous young couples received as wedding gifts.

In Rodney’s retirement, he loved helping at the farm, especially seeding the crop, harvesting the crop, hauling the grain, and being on his John Deere equipment. He died doing what he loved, FARMING!! He died as the result of a grain truck accident, on September 7, 2024, north of Williston. He was a super great son, brother, uncle, great-uncle, cousin, and friend. He will dearly be missed as we cherish his memories, until the Heavenly reunion.

Rodney is survived by his siblings; favorite sister Carol Jean (Lowell) Sandvik; four brothers, Gerald Miller; John (Norma Lee) Miller, Floyd (Debbie) Miller, all of Williston, Mark (Kim) Miller – East Grand Forks, MN; fourteen nieces and nephews, Lee (Janel) and Jeff (Bethany) Sandvik, Gerard (Angee), Arthur, Vincent (Christine), Luke (Vanessa) Miller and Valora (Rashon) Miller- Mitchell; Calvin and Casey (Ashley) Miller; Amanda (Curtis) Scanson and Michael (Emily) Miller; LeeAnn (Rick) Walther; Walta (Tim) Novak; Tressa (Donnie) Laber; and his great-nieces and nephews and cousins.

Rodney was preceded in death by his parents, Fred (2008) and Ruth (2017), and an infant brother (1948), and sister-in-law Virginia Miller, and grandparents, Gabriel and Mari Johnson, and Johann and Margaretha Miller; aunts, uncles, and cousins.

GOD BLESS THE MEMORY OF RODNEY LYNN MILLER

Published by The Minot Daily News, September 12, 2024.