On December 13, 2021, Willis Albert Miller, age 83, passed from the loving arms of family into the loving arms of his Heavenly Father. Willis was born to William and Clara Miller on October 8, 1938 in Slayton, MN. He accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 12, and was baptized at the age of 23.
Willis grew up on a farm in Iona, MN and graduated from Slayton High School in 1956. He then earned an agricultural education degree from South Dakota State College. He taught chemistry and vocational agriculture at Waverly High School in South Dakota and then went on to work for Peavey in Minneapolis as a youth educator and grain merchandiser. In 1961, he married Mary Larson, also of Slayton, MN. They moved to Indianapolis in 1968 and made their final move in 1970 to New Prague, MN, and Willis continued buying/selling grain for Peavey. When Peavey was sold, Willis worked as the director of telecommunications for the State of Minnesota until 1988 after which he began working for Teleplus Consulting. He retired in 2014 after suffering a heart attack.
Willis was an active member of Community Baptist Church for 51 years, and served as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and leader of the Boys Brigade and Awana. He was also very involved with 4-H, Pork Producers and the Rotary Club. He loved raising his seven daughters and two sons, reading his Bible, spending time with his grandchildren, and taking care of his Katahdin sheep and various other livestock.
Willis died of heart disease and prostate cancer and is survived by Mary, his wife of 60 years; his children – Karen (David) Melin, Sarah (Kevin) Zakariasen, Emily (Ben) Montzka, Heidi (Patrick) Wight, Jennifer (Scott) Deckert, Rebecca (Jon) Rosemeier, Stephanie Miller, Josh (Shannon) Miller, and Timothy (Amanda) Miller; Willis' three sisters – Carol, Sandra and Mary; 33 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Clara and his brother Bill (who passed away recently).
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 17 from 4-7pm at the Bruzek Funeral Home, and the funeral service will begin at 11am at the New Prague Community Baptist Church on Saturday, December 18. A visitation will be held at the church prior to the service from 10-11am.
