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Jan 17, 1931 - Jan 22, 2018
Roderick Raymond Miller born: January 17, 1931 - deceased January 22, 2018.

Married Evelyn Ione Topp - December 29, 1971 - deceased January 26, 2017, Rod and Ione did not have children. Ione had a son and daughter from a previous marriage.

Rod is survived by an older brother Ed Miller, Windsor, Ontario, sisters Tillie Howe and Dorothy Olson, Kelowna, B.C. as well as nieces and nephews almost too numerous to count.

Rod was the ninth child born into a family of 10. Rod was born in Yorkton General Hospital, all of his other siblings were born at home on the farm. He lived on the farm in Orcadia Saskatchewan. Orcadia consisted of a post office, one gas station, one grocery store, three elevators, a train station and a small number of residents.

Rod attended Fone Hill School, a daily trip of four miles each way, and there was always chores before and after school. The school was was room with one teacher for some 60 students from grades 1-8. Grades 9 and 10 were by correspondence. His parents decided it was time to retire, moving to Yorkton Saskatchewan.

In 1948, Rod started farming with his older brother John in Rokeby, Saskatchewan, a small town east of Yorkton. Things were not very good, so he decided to take a welding course at Calgary, AB in 1948, then left the farm for greener pastures.

He started a mechanics career in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan in 1953. Then went north to Uranium City and helped pioneer uranium mining in Saskatchewan, where he worked as a power shovel and crane operator, and later as a heavy duty mechanic. In 1958 Rod started work with the Saskatchewan Department of Natural Resources as a cat and scraper operator then as a heavy duty field mechanic, where he helped build the Hanson Lake Road to Flin Flon Manitoba, from Smeaton, Saskatchewan, the road to the Pass and other northern Saskatchewan roads.

Rod stole the heart of a camp cook, they moved to Terrace, BC and later married Ione, the camp cook. He worked for Harvester Construction Equipment dealership in Terrace BC for 12 years, was transferred to Campbell River for three years, then to Nanaimo for seven years, where he hurt his back on the job. He had not been able to work since. In 1987, Rod and Ione moved to Abbotsford, BC, being involved with antique car clubs, swap meets and agricultural shows.

In 2001, Rod and Ione moved to Big Valley, AB, once again becoming involved with the community, the Big Valley Historical Society was his greatest priority, as he donated all his antiques and collectables to this society, they in turn erected a building to house all of his antiques and collectables.

Rod's sisters Tillie and Dorothy would like to extend their sincere thank you to all the people of Big Valley and area who have been there for Rod since the loss of his wife Ione.

Graveside service will be held at the Big Valley Cemetery on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. Meeting later at the Big Valley Seniors Centre for coffee and goodies.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Big Valley Historical Society or to a charity of your own choice c/o Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium. To send or view condolences to the family, please visit www.stettlerfuneralhome.com

Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium

403-742-3422, entrusted with the care and funeral arrangements.
Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium



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