Margaret Claire Miller

Margaret Claire (Ragsdale) Miller

July 19, 1923 - February 19, 2022

Margaret Claire (Ragsdale) Miller, age 98, passed away on February 19 at home with her family. She was born July 19, 1923, in Columbus, Montana to Jean Montgomery Ragsdale and Dorothy Benbow Ragsdale. Her father was a partner in the Vaughan Ragsdale department stores in Montana, Wyoming and Michigan. She was a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother to three children and four grandchildren.

Margaret had a very active childhood growing up near many aunts, uncles and cousins in Columbus. She had fond memories of the holidays, birthdays and other occasions when they were all together. Her grandfather was an inventor noted for his attempt to fly an airship at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, his invention of the locomotive spring wheel and for his discovery of a chrome mine in the Beartooth Mountains south of Nye, Montana. This mine provided much of the chromium needed in the war effort during WW II.

Margaret attended school in Columbus and graduated from High School in 1941. She entered Montana State University majoring in Home Economics. Rather than return to Bozeman for her Junior year she decided to move to Torrance, California to contribute to the war effort by working in a defensive plant grinding airplane shafts. She was recruited, at age 20, to join the Navy Waves where she attended boot camp at Hunter College located in the Bronx in New York City. She fulfilled her military service in New York City and was discharged from the Waves in December 1945 at a base near San Francisco, California.

In June of 1946 she returned for her junior year of school in Bozeman and decided to take a summer class before school started in the Fall. She enrolled in a History of Civilization class and was seated next to Edward Miller who was returning to school after his military service in Europe. Little did either of them know they would be married for 73 years until Edward's passing in May 2020.

Margaret and Edward moved to Helena and completed construction on their home in 1956 having spent many nights and weekends to finish it. This home was a joy to both of them as they raised their children. She was able to live in it for 65 years until her death.

Margaret enjoyed reading, cooking and baking with her grandchildren, and traveling with her husband and family. She was a charter member of the Plymouth Congregational Church contributing to many church activities. During retirement she spent winters at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and in California with her son's family. She also enjoyed several cruises and trips to Europe, one of which followed her husband's war time service with the Army's 69th Battalion through England, France, Belgium and Germany.

Margaret is preceded in death by her husband Edward Compton Miller and daughter Debra Jeanne Rich. She is survived by both her siblings James Benbow Ragsdale of McMinnville, Oregon and Dorothy Jean Ragsdale of Selah, Washington. She is also survived by her sons Thomas Keith Miller of Helena, James Edward Miller and his wife Helen Ashley (Richardson) Miller of Castle Pines, Colorado, and son-in-law William Lee Rich of Helena.

Her grandchildren include Mariah Natasha Rich of Helena, and Emily Jarratt Miller, Amanda Claire Miller and Weston James Miller all of Denver, Colorado. She was particularly fortunate to have Mariah live and care for her and Edward in the family home for several years during the latter part of their lives. Margaret was also very appreciative of all the caregivers that assisted her in her home.

A service will be planned in the spring.