Frances Miller

Frances C. Miller, 89, Browns Valley, passed away Sunday, October 9, 2022, at the Browns Valley Health Center.

Funeral Mass will be Saturday, October 15, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Browns Valley.

Burial will be in the Valley View Cemetery, Browns Valley.

Visitation will be Friday from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the church.

Frances Christine was born August 28, 1933, to Martin and Susan (Spoden) Haanen in Beardsley, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Beardsley. Frances attended school in Beardsley, graduating from Beardsley High School in 1951.

On February 15, 1951, Frances was united in marriage to Ward R. Miller at St. Anthony's parsonage in Browns Valley. They were blessed with four children, Steven, Julie, Johnie and Terry, and shared over 37 years together until Ward's passing on April 15, 1988.

After their marriage, Ward entered the U.S. Army and she followed him, living off base in California and Texas. When he was discharged, they returned to Browns Valley, and Frances helped him operate Lena Jenson's fish fry on the South Dakota side of Lake Traverse, Ward's Tavern, and then the Cloverleaf in Browns Valley. She also helped waitress for others in Browns Valley until she started working at the Browns Valley Health Center in 1971 until April 1988.

Frances enjoyed gardening and canning and delighted in preparing her delicious roast beef dinner for family and friends.

Survivors include her children, Julie (Kevin) Zander of Walla Walla, WA, Johnie M. Miller (Karen Rufer) of Browns Valley, and Terry L. (Connie) Miller of Browns Valley; daughter-in-law, Vicki Turen of Custer, SD; grandchildren, Heather Hoe, Angie Ronayne, Cade Miller, Tiffany Miller, Lexi Zander, and Alison Zander; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Susan Haanen; husband, Ward R. Miller; son, Steven Ward Miller; a special companion, Stanley Raw; three half brothers, Jack, Andy, and Joe Klein of Beardsley; and two half sisters, Ann Ream and Katherine Barglof of Minneapolis.