Eugene Miller Sr

Eugene C. Miller Sr. was born December 17, 1922 in Columbus, WI. Gene graduated from Fairchild, WI High School, and received a Bachelor's Degree at The Stout Institute, Menomonie, WI. Gene worked in the Lathem D. Smith shipyards, Sturgeon Bay, WI., before enlisting in the Army Air Force during WWII. He graduated as 2nd Lieutenant in 1944 and served the remainder of the war as a flying instructor in single engine pursuit aircraft and B-17's. Gene married Arline E. Romundstad, February 14, 1944 in Strum Wisconsin. He taught at Perham and Fergus Falls, MN while completing a Masters Degree at the University of Minnesota. He then taught agricultural engineering courses at Waseca, MN, with the University of Minnesota, Southern School of Agriculture.



























































In 1954 Gene was hired to be Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds and instructor at The University of Minnesota, Northwest School and Experiment Station, Crookston, MN where he worked for 34 years. He administered maintenance activities, wrote many of the original college course outlines for Engineering and Aviation, and taught until 1968 when he transferred full time to the Northwest Experiment Station. There he was active in innovative solar heating, silo research, waste handling, fiber fuels, and other energy projects until he retired in June 1986. As an avid photographer, he took colored slides of U of M research projects and aerial views of campus and fields. He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, taught Sunday school, and served as President of the Congregation in 1963. Gene served on the Pathways Camping Board, and was involved with the church's ecumenical activity and flew for the "prayers for the crops". During his years at Crookston he continued to fly, incorporating three different flying clubs. He was president of The Minnesota Flying Farmers for two years and was an active crop sprayer for ten years. He was selected for the "Top Aggie" award in 1981 by the U of M, Northwest School Alumni Association. During the transition of the University at Crookston to college status, he often flew staff and local lobbyists to St. Paul for meetings. Later in life, along with his two daughters, Gene pursued his love of horses and riding. For over twenty years, he was involved in the major horse shows promoted at Crookston. He organized the Canadian promotional tours and Horseman's Hall Of Fame. Gene was trail boss of the 1976 National Bicentennial Trail Ride, a wagon train conducted by the National Girls Scouts of America. He wrote several books and articles about horses. He continued to ride and share his horses with young friends until he left his rural property in 1990. Upon retirement from the University of Minnesota in 1986 Gene enjoyed his home office where he pursued his writing. In 1989 he published "Fairchild - When You and I Were Young", about his former home town in Wisconsin, and wrote for the Minnesota Historical Society. He chaired the "River Task Force" in Crookston in 1986-87. The group organized "River Fest" and "Winter Fest" celebrations demonstrating the possibilities for local resources. In retirement Gene continued as a Trinity Lutheran Foundation board member until 1994. He served with the 1989-1991 Red River Valley Winter Shows planning and finance committee. He was elected to the Winter Shows Horseman's Hall of Fame in 1992. He helped promote early Ox Cart Days, and the "Friends of the Library" organization. He researched historical horse activity in the Valley for the Polk County Historical Society and in 1995 wrote the 100 Years History of The Northwest Experiment Station. He served as publicity director for the area Association of the French of the North society for two years and a term as President of the Golden K Kiwanis of Crookston where he inaugurated their "Take a Kid Fishing" project. Miller surveyed pilots along the Red River Valley and wrote a book about them in 1999. The book highlighted the flying careers of 230 valley pilots. It was awarded "Best Aviation Writing for 1999" by the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame. He organized the Valley Writers and Poets Association in 2002. Gene Miller loved his e-mails and ability to keep in contact with old and new friends. He shared stories of youthful times, hunting and fishing, past flying, and horse events. To many of the young people that passed through the Ranch, he was Uncle Gene or sometimes "The Old Wrangler". Gene is survived by his wife Arline; son, E.C."Corky" (Elaine) Miller Jr. Crookston; daughters, Elizabeth (Jim) Ryder, River Falls, WI, and Lorraine (Don) Mitchell, Duluth, MN; grandchildren, Tatia Neumann, Orion Miller, Will Mitchell, Cameron Mitchell, and Jessica (Casey) McKenna; brother, Charles Miller of Waukesha, WI; and sister, Bertha Chatterson, Eau Claire, WI. He was preceded in death by parents, Clyde M. and Minnie Miller, and sister, Helen Kopp, Oakland, California. A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Eugene C. Miller will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston. Visitation with the family will be for one hour prior to the service. Military Honors will be provided by the Crookston Veterans Council. Memorials may be given to the Eugene C. Miller Aviation Scholarship Fund, c/o University of Minnesota-Crookston.(www.stenshoelhouske.com)

Funeral Home: Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home 615 South Minnesota Street Crookston, MN US 56716

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Previous Events

Visitation
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Service
Saturday, March 24, 2012