Elizabeth "Liz" Christine Miller

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Elizabeth Christine Miller (Liz), age 80, of Brandon, formerly of Renner, SD, passed away surrounded by her family on November 7th, 2014. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 11, 2014, at Renner Lutheran Church, Renner, South Dakota. Visitation will begin at 2:00 PM Monday, with the family present from 5-7:00 PM at the church.

Liz was born July 3rd, 1934 in Sioux Falls, SD, to Allen and Mabel Nelson. At the age of four, while living in Renner, Liz met Leon Miller and professed to her parents she would marry him someday.

Liz lived with her parents and brother on a farm near Renner and attended country school near there. She moved to Sioux Falls in order to work and complete her final two years at Washington High School. Liz’s musical accomplishments in high school earned her a music scholarship to Mount Marty College. She chose to follow her heart and began her journey with Leon by marrying him on September 6th, 1952. They raised their four children in a home they built with love in Renner, SD.
Liz and Leon moved together to Bethany Meadows Assisted Living in June of 2012, where they together made many good friends.

Liz held various business and management positions throughout her working career. Some of Liz’s most memorable professional experiences included time spent at John Morrell, IBM, Holiday Inn, Westward Ho Country Club, Viking Glass, Books-N-Things and River Tower Apartments. She was an active member of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. One of the highlights of her career was opening and managing a local motel alongside her husband where they were recognized for many awards of excellence on a national level.

Throughout the years, she enjoyed spending time at the lake with family and friends, bowling, working at and watching Renner Monarchs games and watching her kids and grandkids in various activities.

Music remained a big part of her life. Liz shared her love of the accordion by teaching lessons for many years. She also played in various local dance bands, sang in the Renner Lutheran Church Choir and played the organ and her accordion at many family gatherings.

Liz loved traveling with family and friends and reminiscing about all her special trips. She was proud of the fact that she had traveled to all but one of the fifty states.
Liz was an active member of her church and community. She participated in various women’s groups and served as the President of the Council for Renner Lutheran Church. Liz spent many years serving on the Berg Cemetery Board. She co-chaired the state bicentennial celebration for Renner and enjoyed many years on the Board of Directors for the Renner Monarchs Baseball Association. She was an avid photographer and collector of memorabilia. Her collection of Renner Monarch memorabilia eventually became a part of the Renner Baseball Museum.

Liz led a joyous life as a cherished daughter, devoted spouse and vibrant mother. She was a role model to her daughters and granddaughters, as well as a courageous 41 year breast cancer survivor.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Miller, parents, Allen and Mabel Nelson, father and mother-in-law, William and Sophie Miller, sister-in-law, Darlene Miller, niece Kris Nelson, and sister-in-law Darlene Nelson. Grateful for having shared her life are her brother Aaron Nelson, brother-in-law Donald (Ruth) Miller, sister-in-law, Marilee (Joe) Smith, brother-in-law Bill (Cathy) Miller, daughter Monica (Joe) Winklepleck, of Sioux Falls; daughter Tamra (David, Col. Ret.) Molinelli, of Papillion, NE, son, Todd (Denise) Miller, of Sioux Falls, daughter, Marci (Mike) Disken of Tenino, WA, 12 grandchildren, Bethlee (James) Burke, Danielle (friend Kyle Lindsey) and Hunter Winklepleck, Robert (Rachael), Matthew, Nicolas (fiancé Theresa) and Hannah Molinelli, Nelson Miller, Helena (Jesse) Rierson, Ashley, Joshua and Elizabeth Disken; 8 great-grandchildren; multiple nieces and nephews and friends.
Liz’s family would like to thank their extended family and friends for all their prayers, support and many acts of kindness.

A heartfelt thank you to all of the Sanford physicians, specialists, surgeons and CCU nurses and staff for the wonderful care through out the years and especially during Liz’s final days.

To the friends, nurses and staff of Bethany Meadows, whom Liz considered family for the past two and a half years, words alone cannot express our gratitude and appreciation.