Miles Hewitt Miller

In Memory of Miles of Smiles

In the early morning of Wednesday, June 4, Miles Hewitt Miller departed his mortal coil for heaven after 93 years of life. He passed in peace in his home, as he had always wanted. Miles Miller was a loved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and life-long volunteer. Lovingly nicknamed “Miles of Smiles,” he always had time for those around him and a smile on his face. His loss leaves a large hole in the lives of those who knew him.

Miles was born in Richland County near Fairmount, North Dakota to Harris and Inez (Burvee) Miller in 1931. He grew up in Lisbon, ND graduating from high school in 1949. Miles served in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1952-54 where he earned the rank of corporal. He attended the Wahpeton State School of Science and earned a BS degree from Ellendale State Normal and Industrial College in 1956, an MS degree from Aberdeen Northern State Teachers College in 1959 and a PHD degree in educational administration from the University of South Dakota in 1971.

Miles met Jeanne Marie Reisdorph in 1955 and he stole her shoe to try to win her heart. She thought he was cute, if a little irritating, but still agreed to a date. Their romance blossomed quickly, and she had her heart set on a winter wedding. When Miles told his mother this, she said “Oh no, you can’t get married in December, you need to wait until June.” Miles told Jeanne that his mother said they should wait until June and she replied, “Are you marrying me, or your mother?”. Needless to say, on December 18, 1955, Miles married the love of his life, Jeanne. And they lived happily ever after for the next 69 years.

Miles and Jeanne raised three children: Kimberly Miles, Gregory Brent, and Sandra Jeanne. As the kids grew up, they camped across the United States in a car and a tent, and it wasn’t always a picnic.When the boys were in high school, the family took a trip to International Falls, MN. When it came time to start the campfire, Miles had no matches. He begged his sons to use their lighters, but neither boy would admit to smoking or having a lighter on their person. So it was a cold, damp night for all. On that same trip on the way home, after 7 nights of sleeping in tents in the rain, they skipped the last campsite reservation when it started to rain again. Miles took everyone to the Thunderbird Motel, and on the 10 o’clock news that night, they heard the campground they were going to stay at had a flash flood. Needless to say, that was their last camping trip.

They lived in South Dakota (Roscoe, Hosmer, and Ipswich), and Minnesota (Lakefield, Caledonia, and Burnsville), following Miles’ job first as a teacher of business education and later as superintendent of schools for 36 years. Miles retired in 1996 in Caledonia and became a Guardian Ad Litem manager in Houston County. In 2005 Miles and Jeanne moved to Burnsville. After so many years of being a pillar in his communities, Miles struggled his first few months because he felt like a “nobody”. But just a few short months later he was praising Jeanne for dragging him here and asking why they hadn’t moved sooner. Needless to say, they became active members of the Burnsville Senior Center, playing bridge, going to happy hours and making new friends in Southcross Oaks.

Miles fought valiantly to recover from a cancerous tumor around his kidney when he was in his fifties. However, in 2024, cancer was discovered in his colon. After a year-long struggle, he passed away peacefully in his sleep knowing that Jeanne was taken care of and his family loved him.

Memorial services for Miles Miller will be held Friday, June 13, 2025 at Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Lakeville, MN. There will be a brief visitation hour starting at 1 pm, with the funeral to be held at 2 pm and a social hour to follow. Interment will be at the Fort Snelling Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in Miles' name to either the American Cancer Society or to Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota https://www.lssmn.org/.

Above all things in his career as a superintendent, he was dedicated to ensuring that he provided the best educational experience for his students. He loved children and even teenagers, and made many friends of the kids that he sent to detention. He was even well liked by the teachers of his schools. Miles was a member of the Minnesota School Administrators Association, Rotary International, Lions International, American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society and the Lutheran Church (ELCA). He received many recognition awards for his services as a school administrator and for his voluntary services in the communities where he lived, including serving as the President of Southcross Oaks Townhome Association for many years. He enjoyed serving others and was such a dedicated volunteer in his community and to those around him, that his family insisted he retire from his retirement to slow down.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanne, of 69 years; children, Kim (Kimberly) Miller, Ely, MN, Gregory (Carol) Miller, West Salem, WI and Sandra (Paul) Nadon, Burnsville, MN; grandchildren, Orion (Brenna) Miller, La Crosse, WI, Chase Miller, La Crosse, WI and Rochelle (Joe) Woodard, Sparta, WI and Anna (Pete) Koczanadon, Madison, WI; and one sister, Vesta Olderness, Oakes, ND; four great granddaughters, Skylon, Sonny Jo, Willow and River Miller, La Crosse, WI, and grand and great-grandchildren at heart Rae Bailine, Loghan Page and Cameron Schmitt.

Miles was preceded in death by his parents and infant twin brothers, Gordon and Gregory Miller, brother Eugene Miller and sisters Ione Vosberg, Maurene Bock and Vera Dethlefsen and brothers-in-law Earle Vosberg, Jerry Bock, Orville Olderness and Lyle Dethlefsen, and sisters-in-law Thelma and Dorothy Miller.

memorial service

Funeral and Visitation

June 13, 2025

Family of Christ Lutheran Church 10970 185th St W, Lakeville, MN 55044, USA

1 PM - Visitation with the family

2 PM - Funeral Service

3 PM - Social Hour

All events will be held at Family of Christ in Lakeville, MN.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services