Donald "Don" Miller

Terry Donald “Don” Miller, 82 of longtime resident of Loup City, NE died Monday, June 24, 2024 at his home in Loup City. Celebration of Life Services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, August 17, 2024 at the Loup City Community Building with Roger Miller officiating. Private family burial will be held at the Arcadia City Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Memorials are suggested to the Loup City Volunteer Fire Department or Nebraska Fur Harvesters, C/O Kevin Jones 978 K Road, Palmyra, NE 68418.

He was born on November 24, 1941, to Woodrow Wilson Miller and Margie Mable Samson Miller at home in rural Custer County.  Woodrow and Margie liked to point out the birth was in the house's master bedroom, which was sod. Don was one of the last babies born in a sod house in Nebraska.

Don grew up on several farms around Custer County. He attended elementary school at Spring Creek School near Callaway, NE. His first trap was given to him by neighbor Frank Cole to catch what killed the chickens.  He would check his trap before school. The first animal he trapped was a skunk. Don graduated in 1960 from Ansley High School. From 1960 to 1964, he served in the US Marine Corps as part of a crew for an amphibious vehicle crew also known as Duck.

Don married Connie Sweeney on February 9th, 1964. Nine months later, their son, Roger Miller, was born. Don left the military in June of 1964.  Upon returning to Custer County, he looked for work as a farm implement mechanic.  No dealerships were hiring, so he took, a job as a printer apprentice for the Sherman County Times.  Four years later, he interviewed for a job as a serviceman at the time KN gas company, would later become Kinder Morgan. Don worked at KN Energy or Kinder Morgan for 38 years retiring in 2006.

In 1972 Jim Sweeney lived with Don and Connie, to finish his senior year of high school. From this time, Don and Jim developed a lifelong friendship.

In 1984 after twenty years of marriage, Don and Connie were divorced.  Don would later meet Janene “Jan” Murray Krahulik while doing a service call. Jan and Don would marry on October 1, 1988.  He became a stepfather to Ryan and Randy Krahulik.

Don’s passion was trapping that he began as a child.  He was one of the founders of Nebraska Fur Harvesters in 1973.  He served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer, so many times we lost count.  His vacations were mainly attending a trapping convention or a camping trip.

Don, was active as a volunteer firefighter for Loup City Fire Department for 38 years.

He is survived by sons Roger Miller (Jennifer) of Colorado Springs, Ryan Krahulik (Jennifer) of Lyman, NE, and Randall Krahulik (Brandi) of Overland Park, KS; Grandchildren Zachary Miller (Brittany) of Richland, WA, Ashley Bonine (Chrysler) of Midwest, Wy, Jacob Miller (Caya) of Falcon, Co, Peyton Krahulik (JoDee) of Kansas City, MO, Kenna Bergeron (Greg) of Kearney, NE, Parker Waruch of Overland Park KS, Lily Krahulik and Alexander Krahulik of Lyman, NE, and Evelyn Krahulik of Overland Park, KS; Great Grandchildren Sarah Bonine, Isaac Bonine, Teagan Bonine, Logan Miller, Nolan Miller, Camden Miller, Lainey Miller, and Augustus Krahulik; siblings are Jane Herndon of Gothenburg, NE, Judy Smith formerly of Gothenburg, NE, Allen “Dale” (Melody) Miller of Fordland, MO, and Susan (Ron) Beck of Mason City, NE  plus many more family members and friends.

He was preceded by his wife Jan Murray Miller mother Margie Miller, Father Woodrow Miller, and brothers Michael Eugene Miller and Loren Lee Miller.