Obituary - Diane Wade Miller

Diane Wade Miller, 78, passed away in Great Falls, Montana, at Highgate Senior Living April 4, 2024.

Her memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Gildford Church with Pastor Clay Masser officiating. A luncheon will follow immediately after the service. Private family burial will take place later.

Please visit Diane's online memorial at https://www.hollandbonine.com to send a card or leave a message of condolence for her family.

Diane was born December 17, 1945, in Glasgow, Montana, to Lyle and Alvira (Dixon) Wade. Diane was the youngest child, joining siblings Les, Belva Jean, and Bruce. Their father worked on the Fort Peck Dam Project and was tragically killed when Diane was a year and half old. Her mother remarried Olaf Folden, who had two children, Neil and Ann, which increased the family to six children.

Olaf moved the family to Joplin, Montana and later to Gildford after he purchased the Texaco Station in 1959.

Diane met Donald Miller when he returned home from college. Diane graduated from Gildford High School in May and the couple married in June of 1963. Together, they operated the family farm and made their forever home in Gildford raising their two children, David and Debbie.

Don and Diane were active community members who attended all of the local events supporting the kids in whatever their interests were. Diane was a member of the Jolly Janes Home Demonstration Club and served on the PTA organization at the school. To say that she enjoyed golfing was an understatement. Diane loved to golf. She participated in women's league in Fort Benton and would take anyone who would go with her out to the course.

She and Don took many annual trips to the Host Fest in Minot, bus tours, cruises to Hawaii and Alaska, the Fall Foliage Tour back east and a family Final Four trip to Atlanta. They wintered in El Mirage, Arizona, for a few years to escape the cold Montana winters; however, when the grandkids became high school-age the warmth of a Montana gym felt better than the Arizona sun. In 2018, Don and Diane were named MHSA Super Fans for all their years of supporting the youth in their school activities in the local area.

Diane was a "baby whisperer." If there was a baby in a room, it wouldn't be long before Diane was cuddling a baby in her arms. This served her well when she had four grandkids under the age of 2, and her arms were always full. Grandmother was another title that filled Diane's heart with joy. She was always involved in her grandkids lives and activities. She would take them on excursions to Havre to the hairdresser, golf course, Dairy Queen and other memorable stops. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Les Wade; sister, Belva Jean Stratton; stepbrother, Neil Folden, and sister-in-law, Patricia "Patti" Wade. 

Diane is survived by her husband of 60 years, Donald Miller; her son, David (Julie) Miller, and daughter, Debbie Miller; six grandchildren, Kiera, Dane, Devon and Dylan Miller, Savannah and Tucker Stewart; brother Bruce Wade, and stepsister, Ann Thielman; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

We would like to thank Heather and the staff at Highgate Senior Living for the wonderful compassionate care given to Diane these past few years. We will be forever grateful for your loving care.

Diane's family has suggested memorial donations be made in her memory to the Gildford Community Park, North Star School Foundation or to charity of the donor's choice.