Dean Elwood Miller, age 85, of DeWitt, Missouri, died December 25, 2020, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by the love of his family.
Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 10, at Brunswick Christian Church, with Reverend Lanny Lybarger, and Mark Schuchmann officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in De Witt.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. – with a Masonic Service at 7 p.m., provided by Wakanda Lodge #52 AF&AM- Saturday, January 9, at Bittiker Funeral Home in Carrollton.
Dean was the son of Ray Russell and Jewell T. (Jennings) Miller, born on October 14, 1935, in DeWitt, Missouri.
He attended elementary school in DeWitt, Missouri, and graduated from Brunswick High School in 1956. A beautiful love story began on December 6, 1958, when Dean married Ruth Ellen Ammon at the Mendon United Methodist Church, and they were later blessed with three children, Linda Michelle, Steven Ray, and Debora Kay. Dean’s greatest passion in life was spending time with Ruth and the rest of his family. Through incessant study and research, he gained knowledge to perfect the arena of farming. His expertise allowed him to become one of the largest chemical suppliers in the area. He was a row crop farmer who persistently studied new techniques in farming to improve his farm. Dean was one of the first farmers in the area to incorporate no-till farming and began his own custom farming spray application. He was a lifelong entrepreneur who owned Miller Farm Supply selling seed, fertilizer, and chemicals to area farmers. In 1972 he and Ruth established Miller Pecan Farms, Incorporated. Dean became an expert in the pecan industry and worked continuously to improving his industry practices. He engineered and developed machinery to speed the process of harvesting, cleaning, drying, cracking, and shelling pecans. Dean was often called upon to share his knowledge with other pecan growers. He also served as an independent insurance salesman and real estate broker. Dean was very active in the community serving in many different capacities on numerous boards including Brunswick R-II School Board, Evergreen Cemetery, DeWitt, where he served as President for many years, Brunswick Levy District, Brunswick Jaycees, Rural Adult Organization, Horseshoe Hunting Club, and DeWitt Township Board. He was initiated as a Mason at DeWitt Lodge #39 and transferred his membership to Wakanda Lodge #52 AF&AM when they consolidated, where he enjoyed 50 + years of membership, Carroll County Shrine Club, the ARARAT Shrine Temple, Kansas City, Missouri, was a 50+ year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Young Republican’s Club, and Republican Committee Man from DeWitt Township on the Carroll County Republican Central Committee. Dean was also a member of numerous Pecan Industry organizations including the Missouri Nut Grower’s Association, Southeastern Pecan Grower’s Association, and Mississippi Pecan Grower’s Association. He garnered many awards throughout his lifetime of achievements. Some of the more notable ones were when his farming operation was selected to be one of five, to be included on Governor Bond’s Spotlight Tour, being the Pecan Festival Grand Marshall, and being an invited guest to witness Governor Bond proclaiming November as Nut Month in Missouri, as well as having Miller Pecan Farms, Incorporated featured in many different magazines and newspapers. Dean was baptized on July 29, 1951, at White Rock Quarry Lake and became a member of DeWitt Christian Church. He later transferred his membership to the Brunswick Christian Church, where he served on the Church Board and was a Deacon and an Elder. Dean enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved fishing so much that he and Ruth traveled to Flin Flon, Canada, driving as far as they could go until the pavement ended, and then hopped on board a Bush Plane that took them to a lodge in the wilderness, where they saw beautiful lakes and an abundance of wildlife. Dean’s journey began early in the morning, as the tour guide would take him out for the day fishing. He was recently overjoyed to catch a trophy rainbow trout in the Taneycomo River in Branson. Dean especially liked fishing for lake trout, walleye, and grayling. Dean and Ruth traveled extensively not only throughout the United States, but Europe, France, Italy, and Alaska, just to mention a few of their favorite destinations. They also spent many winters in Tucson. He liked collecting old-time tractors; peddle tractors and ceramic crocks.
Dean is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Ruth of the home; his children, Linda Michelle Wright and husband Mike of Bosworth, Missouri, Steven Ray Miller and wife Karen of DeWitt, Missouri, and Debora Kay Campbell of DeWitt, Missouri; two sisters, Janice Rohman of Lees Summit, Missouri, and Eleanor Frasier and husband Kenneth of Blue Springs, Missouri; special brother-in-law, Vernon Ammon and wife Terry of Starkville, Mississippi; eight grandchildren, Lisa Lewis of Carrollton, Missouri, Sara Rhodes (David) of Carrollton, Missouri, Dena Hartwig (Ryan) of Bogard, Missouri, Eric Wright (Jordan) of Hale, Missouri, Steven Miller (April) of DeWitt, Missouri, Stephany Russell (Jason) of Brookfield, Missouri, Keli Vandeventer (Clifton) of Cameron, Missouri, Cheyenne Deitch (Jason) of DeWitt, Missouri; and eighteen great-grandchildren.
He joined his loved ones in Heaven, including his parents, Ray and Jewell Miller; parents-in-law, Bill and Nancy (Kruger) Ammon; brother-in-law, Allan Rohman; and his beloved dog, Buddy.
For those who would like to make a memorial contribution, the family respectfully suggests they be made to the Dean Miller Master Farmer Scholarship Fund in care of the County Bank in Brunswick, Missouri. They may be left at or mailed to Bittiker Funeral Home, P.O. Box 223, Carrollton, Missouri, 64633.
Please share your condolences with the family by visiting www.bittikerfuneralhomes.com and click on the obituaries link.