Lorne Miller of Battleford SK chose Saturday, November 1, 2017 to gently pass from this world.  He was 85.  Lorne is lovingly remembered by his son Kim (June) Miller, Sherwood Park AB: Alexia (Derek) Friesen, Sherwood Park, Julia, Parker, and Cohen; Damien Miller, Tempe, Arizona; Danika (Josh) Oviatt, Sherwood Park.  Daughter Pam (Andi) Beaver, Battleford SK/Jasper AB: John (Shelline) Beaver, Saskatoon SK, Zahra, Nia, and Sunil; Stephen (Leslie Dos Remedios), Vancouver BC.  Daughter Erin (Vince) Kaye, Swift Current SK: Michael (Demi) Kaye, Swift Current, Benjamin; Sarah (Brandon) Casselman, Swift Current, Harper.  Son Robin Miller, Sherwood Park.  Daughter Wendy (Wilf) Ebach Battleford: Cody (Tia) Robertson, Pierceland SK, Rumer, Rowley, Rustyn; Kyle Robertson, Battleford, Bo.  Brother Bill Conlon, Morpeth ON; sister-in-law Rose Marie Macnab of St. Albert, AB.  Lorne was predeceased by his loving wife, Deenie; her parents Arthur and Margaret Vine; his mom and dad, Ben and Oonagh Miller and infant brother Rodney; his birth mom, Helene Farrington; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Pat Conlon, Bill and Lil Vine, Pat and Lambert Weber, Jack Macnab, and special friend, Sylvia Payne.

A Celebration of life will be held at 2:00 on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at the Battleford Legion Hall (262-22nd Street, Battleford, SK.).  A private family interment will take place at the Battleford Cemetery. 

A special thanks to Brenda and her incredible staff of Ward 4, Battlefords District Care Centre.  Memorial donations in memory of Lorne can be directed to the Battlefords District Care Centre, Veterans’ Comforts, P.O. Box 69, Battleford SK  S0M 0E0.

According to our Dad, he was born in a little log cabin, way up north on a cold winter’s day, and had to wait two weeks for his Mom to show up!  Really though, Lorne Miller was born October 1932 and was adopted at three months by Ben and Oonagh Miller. Dad always knew he was adopted, and in 1985 discovered his birth mother, brother Bill, sister-in-law Pat, and their four children.  Our family grew.

He had a wonderful childhood in Medstead, Spiritwood, and finally, as a teen, ended up in Battleford, where he met the love of his life, Deenie Vine.  One summer day, walking up Battleford’s main street with his best friend Bob Allan, Dad looked up at the Post Office window.  He spied Deenie, leaning over the casement, beautiful, with her long blonde hair hanging down.  He turned to his friend, pointed to Mom, and said, “Bob, that’s the girl I’m going to marry.”  And marry her he did.  He loved Deenie for the next 47 years until Mom died in 1996.  It broke his heart. 

The Millers had five kids, Kim, Pam, Erin, Robin, and Wendy.  Kim and Pam were born while Mom and Dad were in the navy. Erin, Robin, and Wendy were all born in North Battleford after Dad took over running the Imperial Oil Esso Bulk Station in Battleford from Grampa Ben Miller.   

Mom and Dad loved navy life, serving in Cornwallis, Ottawa, Halifax, Moncton, and Masset.  Dad also served on a number of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships: Unicorn, Skeena, Cornwallis, Haida, and Coverdale.  He was proud to be a Leading Seaman Communicator, Supplementary Class 2, in the Royal Canadian Navy. Dad served in Bermuda and Masset during the cold war, intercepting messages from the Russians and could understand Russian, French, German, and English.  He retired from Stadacona Halifax in 1960 and continued as a reservist for 5 more years.  Long after he left navy life, Dad continued using Morse Code and communicated via ham radio with people all over the world. 

Truck driving was an important part of his life before and after the Navy.  He drove gas truck for Grampa Miller, hauled gravel in Humboldt, drove an autohauler, moving cars from Detroit and Windsor into Saskatoon.  From 1960 to 1972 Dad hauled Esso fuel to farmers.  Then he became the Milk Man, working for Palm Dairies & Beatrice Foods delivering product until he retired in 1996.  We got to eat a lot of ice cream in those days!

Growing up, we had a super fun loving Dad who used to toboggan with us, take us on camping and canoe trips, fished with us, snow-shoed, and cross country skied;  he performed magic tricks like pulling cigarettes and flowers out of thin air – and finding money behind our ears and in our hair! He once made a real igloo in our back yard out of huge blocks of snow – and even slept in it one night with us kids!  He was a magician, fisherman, traveller, gardener, artist, hunter, loved working with wood, and a musician – he played saxophone with the Deadbeats in high school, and during the 60s and 70s, drummed with the Swing Alongs.  Adding to that, he played harmonica, fiddle, bazooka, and the spoons!

A proud Navy veteran and life-member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #9, Dad served as President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, caretaker, and was in charge of rentals for many, many years.  He was also a mason of Battle Lodge #19.

Great Grandfather to 12 little kids, grandfather to 9, father to 5, brother to one, uncle, and son, when asked once if he could live his life over, he said “I would do the same things over again; I really enjoyed my life to the fullest.”

Those wishing to leave condolences may do so at www.SallowsandMcDonald.com.   Sallows & McDonald – Wilson & Zehner Funeral Home, Wally Markewich, Jennifer Wildeman in care of arrangements. 306-445-2418

 

 

• Date : 2017-11-01
• Location : Battleford, Saskatchewan