Miller, Harold 1913-2003

MILLER, VANDESTOUWE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/22/2011 at 10:16:44

From the SiouxLand Press of Aug 27, 2003
Harold Miller 91, a resident of Orange City since 1940, passed away at 10 a.m. Sunday, August 17, 2003 at the Orange City Hospital.
Memorial service was at 11 a.m. Friday, August 22 at the American Reformed Church in Orange City. Graveside service was prior to the church service at West Lawn Cemetery. There was a family prayer service at 10 a.m. Friday August 22 at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Harold Alvin Miller was born April 11, 1912 at the Miller family farm south of Rock Valley in Garfield township. The youngest of 10 children of John and Louisa (Bauder) Miller, Harold attended elementary and secondary schools in Rock Valley and St. Petersburg, FL, graduating from Rock Valley High School in 1930. Initially working for brothers on family farms. Harold was then employed by the Hudson SD Back from 1934-1937. In 1937, he accepted a position with the AAA Farm Program office for Sioux county where he later mangaged the booking section until 1947.
It was during these years that he courted and married Helen VanderStouwe of Rock Valley in January 1940, a match made on the origianl Orange City tennis courts on 1st Street NW. They started their home and family in a small house on 1st Street NW before building the family house on 2nd street SW in 1948-1949, where he lived until entering the Orange City Municipal Hospital in late May 2003
Harold owned and operated a limestone fertilizer business from 1947 until the late 1960s, servicing farmer in NW IA. During these years he also co-woned a family farm with sister, Clara Miller, on the Big Sioux river west of Rock Valley. Always an innovator, his was one of the first area farms with a complete irrigation system (he largely designed) and automatic milking facility.
In the lage 1960's Harold sold the farm and ended his fertizer business and, unfortunately lost his wife Helen to cancer in 1970. He worked for a short time at Silent Sioux Inc. in Orange City before beginning a long relationship with MOCFV Schools, primarily as a part time bus driver. It was here that his photography hobby began to flourish. (He photographed school events).....
Antoher hobby was his lawn spraying business....
He was an active member of the American Reformed Church fro over 60 years, serving on the consistory and a member of the adult Sunday School class for 50 years. He was also an avid bicyclist....
A true pioneer in many areas, Harold leaves behind a daugher Jean Anderson of Schoharie NY, a son Mark of Heidelberg Germany, five grand and two great grandchildren, 17 nieces and nephews. He was proceded in death by his wife, Helen in 1970 and his brothers and sisters: Geroge, Clara, Edwin, Oscar, Authur, Nellie Serek, Richard, Herbert and Hildan, all of Rock Valley.