Ivan Dale Miller
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On Thursday, November 7, 2019, Ivan Miller, loving husband, father, and grandfather passed away at age 70 following a long struggle with a traumatic brain injury. Ivan was born on July 19, 1949 in Spokane, WA to Stanley and Barbara (Hopp) Miller of Odessa, WA. He was the second of eight children. He lived in Odessa and eventually Colbert. He was a farmer's kid who worked hard. He loved every minute of it. He drove tractor as a small child, tended cattle, split wood, learned to hunt and work the land. Ivan majored in industrial technology at Eastern Washington State College. In college he worked summers for his grandfather, Henry Hopp of Odessa. They built homes for wheat farmers of Lincoln County. He also drove truck for the locals. After college, he worked in the Spokane construction industry. He developed a fine-tuned work ethic. He was always early on the job site, and home late after making sure all projects were done for the day. Ivan had mechanical talent. He fixed everything from vehicles to homes. He went to work for Ramey Construction in 1984. He loved building commercial projects and residential homes. He retired in 2014. He was a talented craftsman, with skills that he learned from the German-Russian carpenters of Odessa. With that experience, he built a great life for his family. On November 30, 1974 he married Leslie (Fraijo) Low. (He gave up "late buck" that year.) He was a committed father to Andrew Miller and Anthony Low. He was the ultimate Poppa to his grandsons, Jacob, Michael and Dereck Miller. He loved spending time snow camping as a kid. He would go with his friends, building campfires, playing hockey, or drinking beer. Ivan thrived outdoors. He preferred being in snow. He liked cutting down trees and chopping wood. He and his buddy, Dale Magart would travel the backroads of the Pacific Northwest on their motorcycles. Mostly he loved spending time with his grandsons - sledding, skiing, riding bikes, taking them out in the boat, eating ice cream, and taking them on adventures. He was never in the house unless it was time to eat or go to bed.
He was funny. Ivan had a dry sense of humor and a remarkable wit. He loved to laugh, had an infectious smile, and a giving soul. He was kind and compassionate. He was the guy that everyone depended on for building, fixing, rescuing them or leaning on. Ivan was preceded in death by his father, Stanley, and his beloved grandson, Dereck. He is survived by his wife, Leslie and their boys, Andrew and Anthony (Angela); grandsons, Jacob and Michael, and his friend Dale. He leaves behind his mother, seven siblings and many friends and coworkers. Special thanks to Rockwood South Hill, for providing him with a safe, caring home. They could see Ivan's sparkle and true joy for life. Funeral service is at NW Christian Schools in Colbert on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at 1p.m.