Obituary: Byron LaRue Miller

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008 | 6:11 p.m.

Byron L. Miller, 90, of San Luis Obispo, Calif. died July, 31.

Prior to moving to San Luis Obispo, he was an active member of the community in Boulder City, for 50 years.

Born on January 17, 1918 in Omaha, Neb., he grew up moving around Nebraska, Virginia, Florida and Wyoming as his father followed construction jobs. After his father died in 1932, Byron and his mother moved to Iowa to live with his grandparents while his older brother stayed with relatives in Omaha. He eventually moved back to Wyoming, where he graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Wyoming.

Byron had a long and successful career. He completed nearly 34 years of Federal service, mostly in the electric power industry. He started at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and then transferred to Bonneville Power Administration before serving 3 years in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a Lieutenant JG. After the war, he moved on to the Bureau of Reclamation, first in Denver and then in Boulder City. He received the Department of Interior's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award in 1966. He retired from the USBR in 1973 and went to work for Nevada Power Company until 1983.

During his notable career he became a recognized authority in fields of electric power marketing, transmission and system interconnection throughout the western states.

Byron met Billie Mae Lankford in Galveston, Texas in 1943 where he was on temporary duty with the Navy. He wound up stationed with the Naval Air Transport service in Honolulu and she, not by chance, working at the adjacent Naval Base. They were married in Honolulu on Oct. 7, 1945.

Together they raised a family of three children and became consummate members of their community. They were famous for their hospitality -- always treating everyone like family. Both served on the library and Boulder City Hospital boards and were actively involved with Lend A Hand, and Grace Community Church. Byron was an avid Rotarian. He held numerous offices, received the Paul Harris Award for service and was inducted into the Rotary Hall of Fame after 50 years of service. In appreciation of their many years of community involvement, the city of Boulder City proclaimed July 4, 2002 as "Billie and By Miller Day". He spent his last 4th of July in Miller family tradition -- surrounded by family, laughter, love and lots of excellent food.

He was preceded in death by Billie and is survived by his brother Charles; daughters Marilyn Miller Farmer and husband, Jake Feldman of San Luis Obispo, Calif. and Jan Miller and husband, Ron Libby of Chandler, Ariz.; son Russell Lankford Miller and wife, Roni Miller of Carlsbad, Calif.; grandchildren, Todd Farmer and wife, Jennifer, Ginny Farmer, Jason and Chris Miller, Sara and Brian Libby; and great-grandchildren, Riley, Aiden and Kegan Farmer.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Oct. 10th at 11 a.m. at Grace Community Church in Boulder City.

The family requests that donations be made to either the Rotary Club of Boulder City, P.O. Box 60924, Boulder City, NV 89006 or Lend A Hand, 400 Utah Street, Boulder City, NV 89005 or another charity of choice.