Louis Miller

Louis (Louie) J. Miller passed away March 1, 2025, while doing what he loved, playing music for others. Louie was born on December 1, 1933, outside of Malta, Montana. The family was poor and struggled, so Louie went to work at age 10 delivering milk and driving the milk truck. In 1952, during the Korean War, Louie enlisted in the Navy. He became a radioman and was stationed at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii where he spent the first part of his Navy career as an instructor at radio school. He eventually requested to serve on a ship and was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain for the remainder of the war. After the war, he served in the Mediterranean aboard the escort carrier USS Gilbert Islands until he was discharged in 1955. He returned to his hometown of Malta and began working at Dobson Motors assisting in the service shop performing various duties.

Louie was married to his first wife around 1959 and together they had a daughter Debbie. They eventually divorced and then in 1964 Louie married Marcia Hilbert and they had a son Dan. During this same time Louie started working for the Valley Motor Supply auto parts store in Malta. He eventually was promoted to manager and in 1971 moved the family to Miles City, Montana, where he managed the Valley Motor/Carquest store until the late 1980's. He was eventually transferred back to Malta to finish his career, but upon retirement returned to Miles City.

Louie loved to tell jokes and always had a good story. He loved to fish and caught many walleyes and northern pike over the decades. He also loved music! When he returned from the Navy, he spent time playing drums and singing with a hometown band in Malta. Many times, over the years, Louie would be invited on stage in Malta or Miles City to sing a few songs with whatever band might be playing that night. The Hadacol Boogie was always a crowd favorite.

When Louie retired, he decided he missed playing music and took up the guitar. He had many friends who helped along the way, but he finally got the hang of it. During this time, he wrote an original song in for the love of his life his wife, Marcia. The song was called the Miles City Waltz, and Louie entertained many in Miles City and Billings singing this song.

While in retirement, Louie's wife Marcia began to develop signs of dementia and in 2017 Louie had to move Marcia to Billings to provide her proper care. Louie embodied what it truly means to honor one's wedding vows “in sickness and in health”. It was at that time that Louie moved to the apartment community of Affinity, in Billings. He knew it was meant to be when on the first day of living there he was invited to play music with some other residents. These Saturday night jam sessions continued every week until his death on Saturday March 1. Louie loved the Affinity community and the people who lived there provided him love, friendship and lots of fun. The family wants to thank everyone at Affinity for their love, support and friendship to Louie, they all made his final years happy ones.

Louie has four grandchildren that he was very proud of. A granddaughter Katie (Debbie & Steve Powell), who lives and works in Texas. Three grandsons, Logan, Ethan & Evan (Dan & Pam Miller) who live in Billings, MT. The grandsons will miss playing four-handed cribbage with “Papa Guitar”.

Louie was predeceased by his parents Legretta Mae & Peter Miller, his wife Marcia Miller, five siblings Frances Johnstone, Evelyn Itcaina, Helen Albright, Sophie Miller & Irvin Miller. He is survived by a sister Mary Gadbaw, his two children Debbie (Steve) Powell, Dan (Pam) Miller and his four grandchildren Katie Powell (Debbie & Steve), Logan, Ethan & Evan Miller (Dan & Pam). A Family service will be held this summer and internment will take place in Miles City.