Roger Miller

Roger David Miller was born December 12, 1939, to Ed and Frieda (Knittel) Miller. He joined an older sister and brother, Delores and Henry, at home. When Roger was three months old, his family moved south of Colome where he resided in the same section of land the rest of his life.
Roger attended the Rosebud Rural School-a childhood memory that always stood out in his mind was the Blizzard of '52 and all the stories that came with it. Roger graduated from Colome High School in 1957 making many lifelong friends, After high school he stayed on the family farm and especially enjoyed the farming and the shop and repair work. He continued helping on the farm up until his illness.
Roger was a baptized and confirmed member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Colome. His confirmation verse was John 3:16. Roger served on the Church Council for a number of years. He also served on the McNeely Township Board up until last year.
Roger married Jeanette Fetzer on January 11, 1969. They were blessed with two children-Ronald David and Nancy Lea. Roger and Jeanette enjoyed 54 years together farming and ranching with family and many good friends and neighbors.
A special joy in their lives were their three granddaughters-Arielle, Trinity, and Madisyn-and the fun times they were able to spend with them.
Roger was diagnosed with aggressive small cell cancer in September 2023 and passed away November 17, 2023, at the age of 83 years and 11 months at the Winner Regional Hospice Care.
Roger is survived by his wife Jeanette; son Ron Miller; daughter Nancy Miller; granddaughters Arielle, Trinity, and Madisyn Miller of Sioux Falls, SD; sister Delores Duffy of Clearfield, SD; brother-in-law Jerald Fetzer and wife Bonnie of Colome, SD; sisters-in-law Caroline Peterson of Platte, SD, and Myrna Pechota of Winner, SD; and many nieces and nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ed and Frieda Miller, brother Henry Miller, and brothers-in-law Dale Peterson, Larry Pechota, and Peter Duffy.
When Roger got sick he was surprised of the number of people that cared about him! Thank you to each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers and many acts of kindness shown to us all.
The Train of Life-
At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel on our side. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone.
As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of our life.
Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we don't realize that they vacated their seats! This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.
Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers, requiring that we give the best of ourselves. The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So we must live in the best way-love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are.
It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty-we should leave beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.
I wish you a joyful journey for the coming year on the train of life. Reap success and give lots of love. More importantly, thank God for the journey!
Lastly, I thank you for being one of the passengers on my train!
Funeral services for Roger Miller, age 83 of Colome, SD will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome, SD on Tuesday November 21 at 10:30 AM. Burial to follow in the Colome City Cemetery. There is a prayer service on Monday evening at 7 PM at the church. Visitation is one hour prior to both services.