Earl P. Miller age 94 of Perham, Minnesota died Friday, December 28, 2012 at Perham Living. A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 31, 2012 beginning at 11:00 AM at Calvary Lutheran Church in Perham, Minnesota with Pastor Phil Holtan officiating. Lunch will follow the service at the church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place in the Spring of 2013 at Maple Lake Cemetery in Fertile, Minnesota.
Earl was born November 21, 1918 in Almena, Wisconsin to Albert and Clara (Lueck) Miller. His family moved to Blackduck, Minnesota in 1933 and Earl entered the Navy in 1942. Home on military leave, he met Ruth Erickson and they were married December 31, 1945. He entered the dairy business in 1946 working at the Mentor Creamery. Earl became Manager at Beltrami and then Twin Valley in 1957. It was there that he earned the Champion Butter Maker of the Year award. In 1971 he became a Field Service representative for Land O'Lakes in Perham, Minnesota until he retired in 1983. Earl loved to fish, hunt, make roll-in-docks and do woodwork. He taught all the kids waterskiing and spent hours on the lake with them. To all who knew him, cribbage was his game, playing it into his 90's beating the best of them. Also his love for his horses and mules was never forgotten. His most treasured time was being with his family and friends. The staff and residents at Perham Living also became a part of his big family. He will be remembered by all of us as a very patient and principled man; so full of love.
Earl will be missed by his wife Ruth; his loving children, JoAnn (Denny) Iverson, Ron (Robin) Miller, Chad Miller & Cora Alberts, daughter-in-law Vicki Miller & Vernon Holland; sister, Bernice (Robert) Winterfeld; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Kim (Dan) Doyle, Carson & Riley; Jodi (Ron) Weber, Shay & Alexa; Jake (Sue) Miller, Maria & Wade; Dan (Lisa) Miller; Matt (Kathie) Miller, Brooke, Logan & Seth; and Fara (Mike) Loge, Kade & Bryn.
Earl is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Clara; son, Dennis; brothers, Roy (Anne) Miller, Clarence Miller, and Delbert (Ann) Miller.