Merlyn Miller

Merlyn M. Miller, 91, West Fargo, ND, formerly Wahpeton, passed away Friday, January 12, 2018 at Sheyenne Crossings, West Fargo. The Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, at Bethel Lutheran Church, Wahpeton, with Rev. Jule’ Ballinger officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, from 4 PM to 7 PM with a 7 PM Prayer Service at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, and one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be at Fairview Memorial Gardens, Wahpeton. Military Honors will be conducted by Wahpeton Military Honor Guard and the North Dakota Funeral Military Honors Team.

Merlyn Melvin Miller was born December 25, 1926 in Wahpeton, ND, the son of Melvin and Marguerite (Chezik) Miller. He grew up on the family farm near Tyler, ND, where Merlyn attended rural school at Summit No. 4 and graduated from Wahpeton High School. He joined the Army in the Advanced Special Training Reserve Program at the age of 17 and attended SDSU in Brookings, SD and did his basic training in Texas. He attended Oregon State University before he was sent to Alaska until he was honorably discharged in 1946.

Merlyn was united in marriage to Marlene Ehlers on July 25, 1947 in Minneapolis. Merlyn received his degree from the University of Minnesota in 1951.  The couple farmed near Tyler, ND, for many years. In 1976 they built a new home south of Wahpeton where they lived and stayed active for the next 25 years. In 2008 the couple moved to Breckenridge, MN; before moving to Sheyenne Crossings in 2016.

Merlyn was a long time member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Summit Township where he had served as president for 25 years. He currently was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, Wahpeton. He had served on the State Board for Vocational Education for several years, on the Wahpeton School Board as well as serving on Fairmount Credit Union, and Credit Union of Wahpeton. For several years Merlyn enjoyed flying having obtained his private flying license in his younger years.

Merlyn is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marlene, West Fargo; three sons and a daughter: Bruce (Kathy) Miller, Fargo; Guy (Jackie) Miller, Breckenridge, MN; Vicki (Alan) Reep, Fargo; Mark (Paula) Miller, Fargo; and Son-in-law: Douglas Johnson, Billings, MT;  9 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and a half-sister, Ardis Burley, Fargo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Pamela Johnson.

Merlyn's Memorial Folder