EARL L. MILLER
February 16, 1944 – June 7, 2009 

Earl L. Miller, age 65, a long time Park Rapids, MN area resident, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 7, 2009 following a valiant battle against cancer at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids with his loved ones at his side.
Earl was born on February 16, 1944 in Dodge Center, MN to Dewey and Effie (Trapp) Miller. At the age of 4, he moved with his family to the Becida, MN area. He attended the Lake Alice Country School through the eighth grade and then went on to attend high school in Park Rapids. As a young man, Earl joined the United States Navy where he proudly served aboard the USS Blue during the Viet Nam War from 1967 to 1969. Earl was united in marriage to Lynnette J. Peterka on December 28, 1968 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Park Rapids while home on leave from the Navy. This union has been blessed with two children: Linda and Kenny. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, Earl returned to Park Rapids where he and Lynette purchased a home north of Park Rapids where they have made their home for the past 40 years. Earl attended the Wadena Technical College where he studied automobile mechanics. Upon his graduation, he gained employment with the Chevrolet dealership in Park Rapids. Later he also worked for McGrane’s Dodge-Chrysler dealership and Kostal Ford. In the early 1980’s, Earl began a new career driving truck for Lamb-Weston-RDO. In the early 1990’s, he returned to the Park Rapids Ford dealership where he worked until his retirement in the fall of 2006. Earl loved the out of doors; especially, when he could be hunting, fishing, camping or bicycling with his friends and family. He enjoyed visiting with people and making them laugh. He loved to sing Karaoke. He was a member of the Otto Hendrickson American Legion Post #212 in Park Rapids and attended the Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. Above all, Earl devoted his life to his precious wife and his dearly loved children and grandchildren.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Lynnette of Park Rapids; his two children: Linda (Travis) Kelley of Warroad, MN and Kenny (Jessica) Miller of Park Rapids; 4 grandchildren: Jasmine and Samantha Kelley and Preston and Kendra Miller; two sisters: Delilah (Earl) Brown of Park Rapids and Lorraine (Jerry) Vojak of Becida; l brother, Rodney (Phylis) Miller of Amanda Park, WA; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers: Warren, Ronald and Willard.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 11, 2009 at the Calvary Lutheran in Park Rapids, MN with Reverend Ken Nyhusmoen officiating. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon until 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 11, 2009 at Calvary Lutheran church. Organist will be Roz Pederson. Congregational hymns will be “On Eagle’s Wings” and “The Old Rugged Cross”. Special music will be “Daddy’s Hands”. Active casketbearers will be Gene Brown, Ronald Vojak, Mike Lorenzen, Wade Mickelson, Tom Condiff, and Ted Stillwell. Honorary casketbearers will be Earl’s Grandchildren. Interment will be made in Fern Township Cemetery in Hubbard County, MN. Arrangements provided by Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN. To leave online condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com.