Joan E. Miller

Joan E. Miller, 87, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at Sanford Health, Fargo, ND.

Joan was born July 13, 1932 in Fargo, ND, the daughter of Margaret A. (Yunker) and Leal B. Long.  She grew up and was educated in Fargo, spending summers at her grandmother’s farm, now knows as The Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm.  She worked for the City of Fargo Assessor’s Office, American Crystal Sugar Company’s corporate office, and The Forum in Fargo.  She married Merle Miller on August 18, 1977.  They moved to Pelican Rapids, MN, in 1988.

Jo was a member of the Pelican Women’s Civic Club, served on the Board of Community Education, and on the Crisis Response Team at Viking Elementary School.  Jo, with her husband Merle, started the Christmas Spirit Program in Pelican Rapids, that gave gifts to needy children, and served turkey dinners to those alone or in need on Christmas Day.  She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in rural Pelican Rapids, MN.  At Zion she served on the Church Council, was a Luther League Advisor, volunteer secretary and taught classes on the 12 Steps of Christian Living.  She served on the TeleCare Committee, Fellowship Committee, Call Committee and the Church Directory Committee.  She designed the first Employee Manual adopted by the Zion Church Council.  When Merle died in 2006, Jo moved to Moorhead, and volunteered at MeritCare’s Children’s Hospital, rocking babies in the NICU.  She joined Christ the King Lutheran Church in Moorhead and volunteered on the G.R.O.W. committee for Global Response and Outreach Witness.  Joan was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church at the time of her death and enthusiastically supported mission outreach at Christ the King and Messiah Lutheran Churches.

Jo is survived by her four children, Mary Jo Rand, Elk River, MN, Sandie Stanley, Detroit Lakes, MN, LuAnn Rand, Moorhead, MN, and Michael (Debbie) Rand, Borup, MN, and seven grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Merle.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Churches United, 1901 1^st Ave. N., Moorhead, MN, 56560.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 11:00 am with a visitation beginning one hour before the service at Messiah Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND.

Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Pelican Rapids in the spring.