Stephen Curtis Miller

Stephen Curtis Miller was born to Albert G. and Beatrice L. (Powers) Miller on March 9, 1933 at Halsey, Nebraska, in Thomas County and passed away April 3, 2019 at his home in Columbia, Missouri at the age of 86. He was one of 6 children in the family. Steve grew up in Halsey, Nebraska, and attended elementary school there, riding horseback to not only attend school but to work for local ranchers at an early age to help put food on the table. During high school he moved with his family to Anchorage, Alaska and attended high school there. He went on to serve in the Army and was stationed at Fort Richardson. Following his service in the military he returned to Nebraska where he studied at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1960. After briefly working in the banking industry and even gold mining in South Dakota, he returned to Halsey where he began his true life’s work as a cattle rancher. Mutual friends and a blind date brought him a wife and three children in 1974, and a year later another child to make four. Steve lived there with his wife Angie until 1991. Steve and Angie then moved to Princeton, Missouri and continued cattle ranching until 2004, when they semi-retired and moved to Fairbury, Nebraska. In 2015, Steve and Angie moved to Columbia, Missouri where he lived until he passed away. Steve was driven, hard-working, and smart with a sense of humor that will leave those left behind filling in the blanks with what he may have said. He was a persistent man; quiet, observant and often deep in thought. He started with only his determination and passion for ranching and ended his career successfully as a self-made man. Building his cattle operation from scratch, he was proud of his land and his livestock, He passed his work ethic on to his children and the many who worked with him on the ranch, teaching a sense of pride in a hard day’s work. He stood up for what was right and what he believed in. His sister said “I’ve never known a man who tried so hard to do the right thing”. He had immensely strong core values – always do the right thing – no matter if it means taking the hard way. Driven, he persevered through barriers of economic and environmental hard times. A man of wisdom – he was a man of few words but when he did say something, he’d thought about it and it meant something. He took great joy in fixing things; not having to buy something new if he could repair something, using ingenuity to make it work and not be wasteful. He loved and respected the land, and took great care to make sure his land, his equipment and his livestock reflected the pride that he took in his work. He had a tremendous impact on young men that worked for him – many tell stories of how Steve taught them things and helped them grow up. This would include even facing the consequences of whooping it up on a Saturday night – that cow wasn’t going to milk itself come Sunday morning and your boots better be polished for church! A quiet and perhaps stoic man, Steve loved his family and the communities he chose to call home, but above and beyond he loved his wife. He made sure that as he prepared to leave this world that his kids knew how much he loved and respected their mother, delighted in telling how they met and even the challenges they faced and the odds they beat. The cold nights of blankets hung over doorways and one pot bellied stove to heat body and soul of all. He was passionate about his beliefs and was a community servant, serving in the Nebraska Cattleman’s Association, as a county commissioner in Halsey and also served on the school board. In his earlier years he was a faithful member of the United Church of Christ and later joined the Catholic Church. He took great joy in many things and thoroughly enjoyed a hearty laugh. He enjoyed time with his kids and grandchildren, telling stories of ranch life and escapades in is younger years such as playing with a stick horse around the homestead and sledding with his brothers. He learned generosity from his parents. No matter how poor they were when he was a child, they always had room for someone in need. He carried this generosity throughout his life, giving to many organizations, particularly the Wounded Warrior Project, which was especially close to his heart. He and his wife Angie always enjoyed dancing and everyone always stopped to watch; he loved to swing his partner around the dance floor. In his later years he enjoyed reading, watching sports, particularly Husker football and golf, even taking up golfing with friends during his years in Fairbury. He enjoyed Cajun cooking for a time and took great care in finding the right recipe and preparing meals for his family. He most recently took up rose gardening and had become quite the expert and was learning more every day. Steve’s motto was: “God, family, country and community – that’s what’s important and that’s how you should live your life”. He has saddled up for his last ride, twinkle in his eye and grin on his face, and is sauntering off to sunnier days. May his legacy and solid beliefs be carried forward. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Beatrice, and his brothers Glenn and Wendell. Steve is survived by his wife Angie and his four children Tony Miller in Arnold, Nebraska, Allen (Neena) Miller in Kearney, Nebraska, Mary Jo (Nich) Smith in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Cynthia (Scott) Kotovsky in Columbia, Missouri; sisters Doris Lee in Palmer, Alaska, Marsha (David) Cox in Palmer, Alaska, and Joyce (Mick) Morton in Lincoln, Nebraska. He leaves grandchildren Tyler (Lisa), Brent (Heidi), Nathan (Amber), Shelbi (Kevin), Gavin, Ava, and Oliver, great grandchildren Tyson, Claire, Kaitlyn, Mason, and Julian, and many nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass for Steve was held on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Exeter. A Rosary preceded the Mass at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Monsignor Daniel Seiker officiated the services. Agnes Anderson accompanied Greg Rehm who sang “Jerusalem, My Happy Home,” “How Great Thou Art,” “You Are Mine,” and “Lord, Let Me Walk.” Pallbearers for the service included Tim Burns, Nathan Burns, Zane Morton, Todd Morton, Don Osborne, and John Mitchell. Interment was held in the Exeter Cemetery. The Nebraska Military Honor Guard performed Military Rites at the cemetery. Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in care of the arrangements and online condolences can be left at www.farmerandsonfuneralhome.com Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project in Steve’s memory at Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

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Stephen Curtis Miller

March 9, 1933 - April 3, 2019