Larry L. Miller

Larry L. Miller, 64, of Gering, died Thursday, March 2, 2006 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2006 at the First United Methodist Church in Gering with Pastor Linda Battello and Dr. Charles Bonds officiating. Interment will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday March 7, 2006 in the Minden Cemetery with Pastor Greg Hall officiating. Larry was born December 21, 1941 in Campbell, NE to Bernard and Mary S. (Portz) Miller. He was raised on the family farm and attended country school for one year, graduating from Campbell High School in 1959. He worked in Kearney and Hastings before entering the Army National Guard stationed in Ft. Leonardwood, MO. He was united in marriage to Mary C. Jepsen on September 26, 1964 in Minden, NE. They moved to Omaha where he was employed by Skagway Department Store as a shoe buyer. In 1968 they moved to Scottsbluff. Larry retired from R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. after 28 years. After retirement, he was employed by Procter and Gamble in retail services. Larry was a lifetime member of the Studebaker Drivers Club, having served on the national board of directors representing the north central zone the past 18 years. He was a member of the local Western Wheels Chapter and Conestoga Chapter in the Denver area. He helped organize and was a charter member of the Dakotas Chapter and helped form the newly chartered Wyoming Chapter. He was an active member of the Rollin Oldies Car Club and a member of the Scottsbluff Elks Lodge. Larry restored many classic cars over the years, including Studebakers and Packards. His prized cars were a 1938 Packard Limousine and a 1958 Studebaker Packard Hawk. He won numerous awards in local, regional, and national shows. Larry was an avid supporter of Gering Organized “GO” Baseball and former little league baseball coach. He enjoyed all sports, especially following his daughter’s volleyball career at Western Nebraska Community College and the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He is survived by his wife Mary of Gering; son Brett of Hastings; daughter and son-in-law: Kristin and Todd Gottula of Kearney; brother and sister-in-law: Phil and Shirley Miller of Wahoo, NE; sister and brother-in-law: Bernadine and Jack Anderson of Surf Side Beach, South Carolina; sisters: Rita Koehler of Omaha, NE and Alice Witt of Lathrop, MO and sister-in-law: Betty Shiers of Minden, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents and mother-in-law and father-in-law: Hazel and Elmer Jepsen.