Obituary of Kenneth Ralph Miller

Kenneth Ralph Miller passed from the loving arms of his extended family to be with our lord and savior on April 20, 2023.  After battling with the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s for several years.  Ken was born the third child of eleven children to Emmett and Vivian Miller April 6, 1933 in a small farmhouse in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

An industrious boy, starting his first of several businesses, hauling trash for a ten-block radius of neighbors in his Radio Flyer wagon. He later became a meat cutter at Hinky Dinky grocery in Council Bluffs Iowa, working 8 hour shifts while still attending high school.  Ken met Patrician Louise Adams, they fell in love and married in 1950 at the age of 17.  They later moved with their baby boy Kenneth “Stark”, to Boise Idaho.  Two more children soon followed, Evelynn (Lynn) Louise, who passed away August 14, 2018 and Kevin Ralph of Roseburg, Oregon.  After moving to Boise, Ken was employed as a meat cutter at Boise’s 28th Street Market before going to Eddy’s Bakery as a delivery driver were he worked for 25 years.  Ken had many friends from Eddy’s and attended lunches for many years with them.

Ken and his second wife Judy (Zenner) and her 3 children, Tammy, Pam and Sam, lived in Meridian and owned and operated Elite Dry Cleaners.  Later with his 4th wife Patricia (Pat) Anne Miller, they co-owned a take and bake fresh pizza business.  After retiring from Eddy’s Bakery Ken often helped his son and grandson at Choice Cut Meat Market in Boise.

Ken is survived by his sons, Stark and Kevin, stepdaughter Cheryl, stepsons Mike, John, who cared for Ken with his Alzheimer’s after Pat’s death, Greg and Bob, siblings, Robert, Charles, Beverly, Kathleen, Janis, Roger and Dennis. Twenty grandchildren and several great grandchildren and a few great great grandchildren.

Ken is preceded in death by his wife Pat of 38 years before her death, his daughter Lynn, his parents Emmett and Vivian Miller, sisters Rosali Mohr, Christina McDonough and Pat Holmberg.

Ken was always jovial and had quite a big booming voice.  Ken maintained a relationship with many friends over the years.  Ken and Pat’s home was always opened to their very large family and friends for celebrations, wakes, and holidays.  He was a talented sketch artist and his sketches were cherished by family.  Ken loved to fish especially at Lille Camas, go camping with family and friends.  He loved to putter in his garden and was always proud of his tomatoes and artichokes. Ken loved to bowl and was on bowling leagues and he enjoyed the game of golf.  Ken had a large family and was very loved.  A place in our hearts will remain empty until we meet again.