Johnny Miller, age 79 of Lemmon, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon.


The Mass of Christian Burial for Johnny will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 19, 2009 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon with Fr Brian Fawcett, officiating. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon with full military honors afforded by the Brattvet-Green American Legion Post #66 of Lemmon.


A rosary service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday evening at St. Mary's Catholic Church.


Special music will be provided by Mary Nehl.


Serving as casketbeaers are Rudy and Jeff Sackmann, Mel Maxon, Mike Schweitzer, Don Feist, and Kenny Lillehaug. All friends and family are considered honorary bearers.


JOHN P. MILLER was born to Jacob and Margaretha (Yochim) Miller in Fox Valley, Saskatchewan, Canada on April 3, 1929. He spent his childhood years on the family homesteads in Haynes, ND and North Lemmon. As a young adult, he enlisted into the U.S. Army January 13, 1951. He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged on January 16, 1957. Following his discharge, Johnny returned to the Dakotas where he began working on road construction.


On March 31, 1959, Johnny was united in marriage to Florence Zentner in Gackle, ND. With three young children at home, Johnny decided that road construction was not the job he wanted to continue. He took over management of the American Legion Club in Lemmon. He later purchased the A & W Drive Inn, which he and Florence operated for one year before selling it. In 1973, he began a career that he took great pride in, driving for UPS. Johnny continued that job for over thirteen years until his retirement.


Johnny's favorite pastimes after his retirement were golf, taking care of his yard and watching his grandchildren's sporting events.


Surviving family members include his wife Florence, Lemmon, SD; son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Danette Miller, Parker, CO; Steve and Barb Miller, Rapid City, SD; daughter and son-in-law, Roxanne and Gary Holzer, Rapid City, SD; nine grandchildren, Heather Miller, Las Vegas, NV; Sabra Miller, Chadron, NE; Cory Miller, Parker, CO; Tyler Holzer, Omaha, NE; Ryan Holzer, Oakland, CA; Kahli, Jordan, Alex and Payton Miller, Rapid City, SD; 2 brothers and 4 sisters-in-law, Vic and Vi Miller, Brookings, SD; Jake and Rosemary Miller, Belle Fourche, SD; Delores Miller, Lemmon, SD; Phyllis Miller, Custer, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.


Johnny was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Ike, Matt, and Ted Miller; 1 sister, Alice Leingang, and 2 nieces.


Visitation will be 1:00 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and on Monday one hour prior to services at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon.


A memorial has been established.