RONALD C. MILLER obituary GREAT FALLS

Ronald C. Miller, 85, died Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, of kidney failure at Peace Hospice.

His memorial service will be held at Hillcrest Lawn Chapel on Thursday at 11 a.m., followed by a reception luncheon at Schnider Funeral Home. Ronald C. Miller was born Dec. 6, 1921, in Harlem, the son of farmers Edward and Mary (Gardner) Miller. He was raised on the family farm north of Hogeland, along with his brother, Mike and sisters, Grace and June. He attended schools in Hogeland and graduated from Hogeland High School in 1940. After high school, Ron went to work as a mechanic and heavy equipment operator in construction and traveled throughout Montana. While working in Conrad, he met his life love, Verna Elza. Ronald and Verna were married on May 21, 1946, in Havre. Now with a traveling companion at his side, he worked construction jobs throughout the northwest states. In the early 1950s, Ron took a shop foreman position with Robinson nCave Construction of Great Falls, and he and Verna purchased their first home in Great Falls. Later he would become a shop foreman at Zooks Construction of Great Falls. He was a member of International Union of Operating Engineers, the Elks Club, the Methodist Church of Cascade and attended First Congregational United Church of Christ in Great Falls. In 1974, he and Verna purchased land in the Missouri River Canyon south of Cascade where they built a new home on Cox Creek. They would live there until 1996, when they moved to a condo in Conrad. In 1998, they moved again to Great Falls and lived at Highwood Village. In 2005, they moved to their home in Yuma, where they resided until April 2007. They then moved to Highgate Senior Living in Great Falls. Ron and Verna had enjoyed more than 30 years of being Yuma snowbirds. Ron had a great love of the outdoors and spent his spare time hunting, fishing, golfing and camping. His wife shared in almost all of his camping and fishing adventures. The two loved hosting fish frys, canning and smoking fish for family and friends. A colon cancer survivor of more than 30 years, Ron looked forward to each new day to enjoy life with Verna, the great outdoors, family and friends. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Mary Miller; a sister, Grace Stremcha Williams; a brother, Everett (Mike) Miller; and nephews, James Stremcha and Vernon Stremcha. He is survived by his wife of 6l years, Verna Miller of Great Falls; sister, June Stremcha of Havre; and several nieces and nephews. Memorials are to Peace Hospice, 1101 26 St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405; Hospice of Yuma, 1824 S. 8th Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364; First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2900 9th Ave. S, Great Falls, MT; or a charity of the donor's choice. Condolences may be left for the family at http://www.schniderfuneralhome. com.