John
A. “Jack” Miller, age 85, a longtime petroleum landman of Shelby, passed away
Sunday, May 7, 2006 at the Marias Care Center in Shelby due to natural causes.
Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m., Wednesday at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in
Shelby followed by cremation. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m., Friday at St.
William Catholic Church in Shelby with burial to follow with military honors in
Mountain View Cemetery. Condolences may sent to the family at
www.whittedfuneralchapel.com
He is survived by his wife Joan of Shelby; his children, Mary Jo Lollis and her husband John of San Diego, CA; John A. “Chip” Miller Jr. and his wife Brenda of Shelby; Bob Miller and his wife Traci of Valier; Kami Peel and her husband Dave of Helena; Rich Miller of San Diego and Tom Miller of San Diego; a brother, Mick Miller and his wife Linda of Great Falls; and his grandchildren: Kyle, Meghan, Craig, Joel, Rick, Carly, Robby and Carter.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Jack was born October 10, 1920 to Mac and Mabel (Rankin) Miller in Gebo, WY. He was raised in Chinook and graduated from Chinook High in 1938. He attended Montana State College in Bozeman while at the same time receiving flight training in Belgrade. He flew briefly for Pan-Am Airlines before joining the Army Air Corps, serving as a Hump Pilot in Asia during WWII. Attaining the rank of Captain, he flew more than 60 missions from India to China over the treacherous Himalaya Mountain Range (known as “The Hump”), which served as China’s lifeline after Japanese invaders closed the Burma Road. After the war, he continued his college education and soon thereafter began his career as an independent petroleum landman.
He married Joan Kielty of Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1953.
In 1966, he moved his young family from Billings to Shelby and established an active and successful petroleum land title and leasing business, where he worked hard until his retirement in 1998.
He was a member of the VFW, Elks Lodge, Marias Valley Golf and Country Club, the Hump Pilots Association and the American Association of Petroleum Landmen.
He enjoyed golfing, fly fishing, bird hunting, flying, reading and betting on the ponies.
Although his physical health faded in his later years, his good heart and sharp mind never did. He will be truly missed.
Memorials can be sent to the Toole County Friends of the Library or to the Veterans Memorial Flag, c/o First State Bank, PO Box 913, Shelby, MT 59474.