Raymond Lance 'Ray' Miller, 64
Ray Miller
After a courageous eight-year battle with Alzheimer's, Raymond Lance "Ray" Miller “went to be with the Lord” on Friday, May 9, 2014. He was surrounded by the love of his life of 45 years, Randi Miller, and his three loving daughters.
He was born in Kalispell on Oct. 12, 1949, to Ken and Betty Miller. He was the second of five children. He attended Evergreen School where, in the eighth grade, he proclaimed to marry his future wife, Randi Betson. After graduating from Flathead High School in 1969, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended basic training at Fort Lewis, Wash. After his completion, he was ordered to serve his country in Vietnam; however before his deployment, President Nixon rerouted his battalion to be stationed on a military base located in Germany. During his three-year service, he worked as a diesel mechanic and was honorably discharged July 10, 1971.
After returning to Kalispell, he began an extensive career in various positions in the logging industry. He ended his career working 27 years for Plum Creek as a heavy equipment operator.
Ray Miller had a kind heart and was loved by many. His pride and joy were his grandchildren, Cole and Caylie Williams, Conner Thompson, Gauge and Vivian Soucie, Dylan, McKenna and Hadley Engler.
He is survived by his wife, Randi, and his daughters, Tami and husband Scot Engler, Carla and husband Craig Williams, Cori and husband Trevor Soucie; his siblings, Roxy and Roger Smith, Reta and Jack David, Ronda and Joe Hermosillo, and Rod and Carol Miller; as well as countless other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lance and Lula Claridge, and Jack and May Miller; his father, Ken Miller; his mother, Betty Miller; most recently, his cousin Doug Miller; as well as numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and a very special grandson “he met at the gates of heaven,” Casey Williams.
His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, at Easthaven Baptist Church, located at 2010 Whitefish Stage Road. Due to Ray's love of ice cream, there will be an ice cream social following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America at 322 8th Avenue, 7th floor, New York, N.Y. 10001.