Allen Richard Miller

Allen Richard Miller, aged 35,734 days (which is 69 days short of 98 years), of Missoula, Montana, passed away at home peacefully, in the arms of his loving wife on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, on October 7, 2023.

On December 15, 1925, he was born to Clara and Richard “Dick” Miller, on the family homestead, somewhere between Haxby and Listmus, Montana.  For a time, they also lived near the construction of the Fort Peck Reservoir, because his father, Dick, was on the Dam construction crew.  Allen was the third of five surviving children, and the only son.  Their home had no electricity or running water, but it did have a grass roof and the occasional rattlesnake that came through the wall.  Once in a while, the kids would swim the Missouri River to watch a movie at a local theater.  They joked that they walked barefoot to Cat Creek School, uphill both ways, through year round deep snow drifts.

After the Dam was completed, Allen’s family moved around as Dick took work wherever he could find it.  They also lived in Nashua, MT, Deary, ID, and Darby, MT.  Allen graduated from Hamilton High School in 1943.  He was a three-sport athlete, competing in football, wrestling and track and field.  He also told a few stories about boxing while he was in the Navy.

On December 7, 1943, a week before his 18th birthday, Allen enlisted in the United States Navy.  He spent time in the Admiralty Islands, before his permanent assignment on Los Negros Air Force Base, near Manus Island in the South Pacific, north of Papua New Guinea.  He told many stories of extreme heat and cooking eggs on the metal surfaces of the ship.

Allen met Betty Jean Kramen in the spring of 1951 and were married six months later.  It must have been his wool sweater (the itchy one with the wolf howling at the moon), because they were inseparable for the next 26,292 days (6 days short of their 72nd anniversary).  Allen and Betty began their life together in Missoula on Howell Street, but eventually settled in the Rattlesnake, where they have lived together in the same home for nearly 60 years.  They raised two wonderful children, Louise and Richard.

The Ag industry kept Allen busy for almost 50 years.  He managed the Dairy Breeders Association, where he provided artificial insemination services to cattle ranchers.  The Bull Farm was in the upper Rattlesnake, which was the source of his “product”.  His children recall his special freezer in the garage that held all of his “supplies” for artificially inseminating cattle.  Many years later, he went to work for the Cenex Co-op.  He worked in the accounting department for awhile, but was eventually THE fertilizer guy.  Allen drove the giant fertilizer spreader truck and applied granulated fertilizer to most of the schools and ranches from Eureka to Darby.  He probably really did know everyone by the time he fully retired in 1993.

During the warmer months, Allen and Betty could be found at their special place at Seeley Lake, which has now been in the family for over 85 years.  The original building was a very cozy one-room efficiency cabin, and every subsequent addition was built by Allen and his helpers.  The cabin property was named “Albelori”, which was a combination of all of their first names.  Generations of family members have shared this wonderful retreat with Allen and Betty, which, aside from its natural beauty, has become a very sentimental place for all of us.  Allen could always be found reading, fishing, building something, just puttering around, or trying to keep squirrels out of his bird feeders.

Allen loved to count things.  He counted his steps when he walked.  When traveling, Al counted cars and fence posts.  Our Grandpa always knew how many hikers, deer or elk were up on the hills above the house.  Grandpa knew how many boats went by the dock.  He counted how many days he was married to Betty and he always had an update for how many days he had been living.  He would surely smile if he knew this obituary was 1061 words long.

The Griz were by far his favorite team.  He has attended almost every Griz home game, dating back to the early days BEFORE Dornblaser field.  He has cheered on Grizzly basketball for decades and provided a synopsis after each game.  When Allen left the house for the final time on Saturday, he was wearing his special Griz sports jacket, which will be with him for eternity.

Grandchildren and great grandchildren have been the lucky recipients of Grandpa Allen’s endless affection, mentoring and companionship.  He loved children and he loved holding babies.  He loved helping the kids dig for worms, go fishing, or build things.  He was famous for carrying the appropriate tool in the trunk of his car.  He usually always had what he needed and he was affectionately known for saying “I think I have one of those in my trunk”.    

Al was a master of pinochle and always knew which cards you held in your hand.  You can be sure he would tell you when it was time to play your 10 of diamonds, but he could usually beat it with an Ace.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents Clara and Dick Miller, his sisters Janet Miller and Edith Ihnat and infant sister, Lois Alma.

Allen is survived by his wife Betty (née Kramen), sisters Beryl Johnson and Vera DeTiene, Allen and Betty’s children, Louise Stiegler and her husband Bruce, and Ric Miller and his wife Kathy.  Louise’s children are Scott Stiegler, his wife Melissa (and their children Anna, Jacob and Sophia), Lissa Munson and her husband Mark (and their children Danica and Tyler).  Ric and Kathy’s children are Lars Miller, Lindsey Steinmetz and Kris Steinmetz (and his daughters Kayla, Kellyn, and granddaughter Katrina).

The family would like to thank everyone who lovingly helped and supported Allen and Betty the last couple of weeks.  Your professionalism, care and compassion are appreciated to no end.

Allen’s cremation was conducted under the direction of Just Cremation services in Missoula.  Mass service will be held Thursday, October 12th, at 11:00am, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 420 W Pine St,  in Missoula.  A reception will follow immediately at St. Anthony’s community room.  

Go Griz!