714th Donald Eugene Miller- obit

Donald Eugene Miller

BOX ELDER - Donald Eugene Miller, 87, passed away peacefully Sunday, Nov. 1,
2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital following a stroke. He was surrounded by his
daughters and family members.

Donald was born March 18, 1922 in Chamberlain to Dewey and Enid (Gooder) Miller.
He graduated from Mitchell High School in 1939. After a year at Dakota Wesleyan
University, he went to work for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad.
He met his lifelong love, Glyde Crisman, at a dance and married her on March 11, 1943;
the day before he shipped out to serve in WWII. Donald joined the U.S. Army in
September 1942 and proudly served his country with the 714th Railway Operating
Battalion in Alaska.

Donald and Glyde had five daughters: Judith Ann Ludy, Barba Gail Williams (Charles)
of St. Paul, Minn., Donna Jean Rubin (Joe) of Benicia, Calif., Rebecca Rae Hale (Sandy)
of Box Elder, and Patricia Kay Miller-Martin (Gary) of Pleasant Hill, Calif. Don and
Glyde had eight grandchildren: Kimberly Wirka (Jason), Courtney Williams, Sabina de
Marchi (Paul), Adrienne Kassis, Brett Hale, Rae Marie Hale, Jeff Rubin and Josh Rubin.
They were further blessed with four great-grandchildren: Susanna deMarchi, Julianne
deMarchi, Claire Wirka, and Charles Wirka.

He is survived by half brothers, Raymond Miller of Portland, Ore., Richard Miller of

Sonoma, Calif., Jack Miller of San Francisco, Calif.; half sister, Jane Swindle of
Mountain Home, Ark.; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

Donald was preceded in death by his wife Glyde; his daughter, Judith; his sister, Betty
Wagenmann; and his brother, Gordon Miller.

Donald worked for the railroad for 40 years and retired in 1982. He and his wife were
wonderful dancers, and enjoyed golf, playing cards, hunting, traveling, and meeting
people. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 0018 at Mitchell; the
Elks Lodge 1187 at Rapid City; and the Masonic Resurgam Lodge 0031 of Mitchell,
celebrating 60 years of membership on April 6, 2009. Donald won several state and city
golf tournaments and shot a hole-in-one on 10 different occasions. He was a special
friend and frequent visitor to all of the Fire Fighting Stations in Rapid City.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Osheim & Schmidt Funeral
Home, with the Rev. Herb Cleveland officiating.

There will also be a Masonic Service led by Ken Harris of Rapid City Lodge 25 and
Military Honors by the VFW Honor Guard.
There will be a luncheon and reception following the services from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30
p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 333 Jolly Lane.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations would be appreciated in memory of his oldest

daughter at Judith Ludy Memorial Scholarship, UNC School Pharmacy, CB 7360 - Beard
Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 or due to Donald's long association with the Rapid City
Fireman to Rapid City Firefighters Association [RCFFA], 10 Main Street, Rapid City,
SD 57701.

Online guestbook for condolences at www.osheimschmidt.com