Ada Joan Miller

MISSOULA ~ Ada Joan Miller passed away on September 14, 2022. She was born January 29,1931 in Thayer, Kansas.  As a young girl, she enjoyed life on the farm in rural Kansas - square dancing while her father called dances, making donuts for her family and neighbors with her folks, and playing with her cousins on neighboring farms. During the war years, the family moved to Wichita and Harper, Kansas. The family settled on a dairy farm in Parsons, Kansas.

Joan earned an associate degree in business from Labette County Junior College. During those years, she met the love of her life, RV Miller. RV enlisted in the Navy, and she started a career at a local bank. When RV completed boot camp in San Diego, they married in Parsons, Kansas. RV shipped off to the Philippines for 2 years while Joan worked in Parsons.  RV was then stationed in Hawaii where they enjoyed a blissful honeymoon for 2 years. They welcomed their first daughter, Sheree, during those years. After the Navy, RV and Joan returned to Kansas and RV started a 38-year career with Hallmark. They added a son, Vince, and a daughter, Linda to their family.

Joan embarked on a busy life as a homemaker, involved in many community volunteer service obligations. She was the “flower lady” at a church for several years, arranging flowers for the alter almost every Sunday. She was always a room parent for at least one child’s elementary classroom. She was very involved with Girl Scouts, first as a leader, then as a troop service director, then as a manager for camping supplies and equipment stores for the local troops. Joan cultivated a large and vibrant social network including her garden club, her bridge group, and her neighbors. After the kids left home, Joan built a real estate career, she enjoyed helping her clients chase their dreams. She explored Asia with Sheree.  She enjoyed a European tour with RV and she toured Italy with friends after taking an art history class. Her last international trip was to Japan, including home stays with two very generous families and a wonderful Intro to Japanese culture, history, architecture, and art.

 
When RV retired from Hallmark, they bought an RV and traveled around the country, especially spending time with their children in Seattle, Boulder City, NV, and Missoula, MT.  In 2004, they moved from Lawrence, Kansas to Missoula, MT to be close to their youngest daughter, Linda, and her growing family and business. Joan established her social network with neighbors and multiple bridge groups. They were incredibly happy in Montana, enjoying exploring their new home state, while continuing to visit WA and NV. RV passed away in 2014. Joan missed him immensely but continued to live independently in the Brookside neighborhood. She moved into the Springs Senior Living Community in Sept 2021. During the year she lived there, she made many friends, sharing many laughs and many stories with them.