Victor John Miller, 73

Victor John Miller passed away on June 30, 2024, at 73 years old, in Emmett, Idaho, surrounded by family. Victor was born on July 21, 1950, to Verne and Virginia Miller (nee Keimig) in Denver, Colorado. He was the oldest of three children. Throughout his adult life, he enjoyed close relationships with his brother Preston (Barbara) of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and sister Virginia "Gini" Linthicum (Gordon) of Tuscon, Arizona.

Victor attended Rose Elementary School in Denver, Colorado. He quickly became lifelong friends with Rick Mosier (Susan) and Harold "Mac" McCloud (Debbie). He attended Alameda Junior High School and Alameda High School. Mac, Rick, and Victor joined gymnastics during high school. Following high school, Vic continued his education at the Colorado School of Mines, where he earned his bachelor's degree in geological engineering. At CSM, Vic joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, where he made many more lifelong friendships. Following college, he went on to earn his master's degree in mining engineering at Arizona State University.

Vic's first mining job was in Ely, Nevada, at the Kennecott Copper Mine. He met his future bride, Mary Ann Crane, in 1976 during a house party she hosted. They were immediately twitterpated, and Vic soon proposed on Garnet Hill. They were married on June 12, 1976, in Ely, NV, at the United Methodist Church. Mary Ann and Vic welcomed their firstborn, Cresta, in 1979. When Cresta was nine months old, Mary Ann became pregnant again, and Jenna was born in 1980.

Following his job with Kennecott Copper, Vic moved into gold mining. This adventure would take Vic and Mary Ann to live in thirteen different towns across Nevada, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. Nevada was the state that Vic and Mary Ann always said they had a fishing line attached to them as Nevada would always draw them back. A few of his favorite work locations were in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Anchorage, Alaska, and Round Mountain, NV. He retired from Newmont Mining in Winnemucca in 2016 and moved to Whitehall, MT, to be closer to Mary Ann's family.

Vic and Mary Ann enjoyed international travel during retirement, including adventures in Africa, New Zealand, the Galápagos Islands, Machu Picchu, and Italy. When Vic wasn't traveling, he volunteered with the Whitehall Rotary Club, walked to achieve 10,000 steps a day, and attended the Whitehall Methodist Church with Mary Ann. During their time in Winnemucca, Vic was an active Boy Scout leader for Troop 223. He guided many young men toward achieving their Light of Arrow badge and becoming Eagle Scouts. Vic attended many campouts, meetings, fundraisers, and food drives. He also enjoyed photography and often returned to Winnemucca for their annual Shooting the West event.

Victor was a beloved family man well known for his love of ice cream and being a prankster. Victor had a contagious laugh; he would often be found silently giggling at jokes only he knew the punch line to. Vic loved being a grandpa and was excited when he became a great-grandfather. Vic made friends everywhere he went. He was known for being helpful, kind, and caring. He has many lifelong friends spread out across the US; he will be missed by many.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary Ann; daughters, Cresta (Sherman) and Jenna (Robert); granddaughter, Daryan (Scott); grandsons, Samuel and Michael, and great-grandchildren, Beau (11), Ryker (3), and Casey (1). He also leaves behind his brother, Preston (Barbara), brother-in-law, Gordon Linthicum, and niece, Emily Linthicum. On Mary Ann's side, he leaves behind sisters-in-law Janet Ewen (Dan) and Nancy Edsall (Cliff) and brothers-in-law Farley Hicks, Art Crane (Mary Jane), and Tom Crane (Sandy). He has numerous nieces, great-nieces, nephews, and great-nephews who enjoyed spending time with him.

Victor was preceded in death by his parents, Virginia and Verne Miller; his mother-in-law Patricia Calderwood and father-in-law Ray Crane and stepfather-in-law Willis Calderwood; his sister Gini; his nephews, Leander and Jason; sisters-in-law Karen Casady and Linda Hicks and brother-in-law Jim Casady.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at 3 PM at the United Methodist Church (102 N Brooke St. Whitehall, Montana 59759). There will be an ice cream social immediately following the Celebration of Life.

A Celebration of Life Facebook page with travel information for anyone with questions is available. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations:

Colorado School of Mines,

The Mines Fund, Colorado School of Mines Foundation, Inc.,

PO Box 912031

Denver, CO 80291-2031

The Winnemucca, NV, chapter of the Scouts of America Troop 223

Boy Scouts-Barta

PO Box 1764

Winnemucca, NV 89446

Whitehall Rotary Club

PO Box 13

Whitehall, MT 59759