Donna was born to Glenn and Ida Murray on February 14, 1935, in Sturgis. She graduated from Sturgis High School and attended Black Hills State College in 1954 through May, 1955, then worked at the Meade County school cafeteria. Shortly after, she married Dean Miller on May 13, 1956, and they moved to the Miller farm near Vale, SD.
Donna was raised in Sturgis on her parents’ dairy farm where she enjoyed horseback riding to bring the cows in for milking. Each morning on the way to school she hauled 10-gallon cans of milk to the Rainbow Milk Company. She enjoyed being outdoors, gardening, collecting Teddy Bears, knitting, and being with family. She was a member of the Friendly Club, where she learned her craft of knitting. She was also a member of the Western Dakota Antique Club.
In 1966, she helped transition the beef farm to start their own dairy with Dean where they raised their 4 kids, lots of chickens, and baby calves. After 52 years, they sold the farm, retired, and settled in Sturgis near her childhood home.
Donna Lee Miller, 84, Sturgis, died Wednesday, January 8, 2020, after a short stay at Sturgis Regional Senior Care.
Survivors include her husband, Dean; her sons, Norman (Charlene) Miller, Choctaw, OK, Robert (Jeneffer) Miller, Sturgis, and James (Laura) Miller, Sweetwater, TN; daughter, April (Patrick) McFall, Loveland, CO; sister, Elaine (Kenneth) Thompson, Elk Creek; and 9 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Raymond Murray.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 13, 2020, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Pastor Larry Reinhold officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in memory of Donna to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or to the Rainbow Bible Camp - www.rainbowbibleranch.org/make-an-impact.
