HOWARD MILLER obituary

Howard P. Miller, 76, of Havre died Sunday, Aug. 6, 2006, at the Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes.

Cremation will take place and his memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Messiah Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael Dahle officiating. Military honors will follow outside the church on the front lawn. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles Club after the memorial service. Howard was born March 19, 1930, in Laurel to Peter and Frieda (Hilderman) Miller. He was raised and educated in Laurel and graduated from Laurel High School in 1948. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in the summer of 1948 and was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1952. Howard met Rosallie (Sally) Ostwalt in Laurel and the couple married Aug. 2, 1953. Howard worked for the Northern Pacific Railway, Burlington Northern Railway and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. He transferred from Laurel to Minneapolis in 1969 and then to Havre in 1971. He retired in June of 1990 after 38 years of dedicated service. Howard never sat idle. He worked as a furniture salesman and carpet installer in Billings for 10 years and sold insurance for 15 years. Howard was very proud of his family and the fact that he was married for 53 years to his lovely wife, Sally. He always worked hard for what he had and was glad that he had the ability to do so. Howard recognized the value of life and family. One of his famous sayings was “remember the good everyone has to go through bad times and it just helps you appreciate the good.” Howard's favorite things in life revolved around his family and most especially his nine grandchildren. Whether it was traveling to any of their activities or just visiting on the phone, Howard was in the know of what was happening in each one of their lives. Howard was a huge sports enthusiast. The Minnesota Vikings and Twins were amongst his favorites. He would know all of the scores of every game no matter where it was played. Howard was a huge Havre Blue Pony fan and never missed a game. He was also a great fan of the Northern Lights and Skylights. He knew all the kids who were playing in every sport. Howard enjoyed his coffee club buddies and his friends at the cardiac exercise program. He was a great cook and had special dishes that he would prepare for family meals. Howard was a very social person who loved to visit with anyone, from grocery store clerks, friends, neighbors or just a visitor passing through town.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Peter D. Thompson; sister, Virginia Harkin; and sister inlaw, LaRue Freund. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Sally Miller of Havre; sons, Scott (Terri) Miller of Alliance, Neb., Kirk (Nan) Miller of Havre and Brad (Bodell) Miller of Helena; sisters, Essye (Chuck) McGuinn of Shoreline, Wash., and Dorothy (Virel) Guinn of Laurel; brother, Don (Shirley) Miller of Laurel; brother- in-law, Dan Freund of Bozeman; and mother-in-law Olga Ostwalt of Havre; grandchildren, Jami Thompson of Lincoln, Neb., Brandon and Brittany Miller, both of Alliance, Neb., Katelin Miller (fiance Dan Wirtzberger), Scott and Dan Miller, all of Havre, and Miles and Mikayla Miller both of Helena; great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions in Howard's honor may be made to Havre Public Schools Education Foundation, The Gift Of Life, Messiah Lutheran Church or to a memorial of one's choice. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.