Dale E. Miller

Dr. Dale E. Miller (73) died peacefully in his home April 5, after a long and joyful life marked by honorable public service and a commitment to both family and profession. Born August 11, 1937 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, his family moved to Sunnyside, Washington when he was six years old. He spent most of his free time prowling the brush hunting pheasants and ducks with friends and family. Dale also enjoyed playing baseball and graduated Sunnyside High School in 1955, salutatorian of his class. He attended the University of Washington and gained early admittance to UW School of Dentistry. In 1960 he married the love of his life, Ann Marie Fenn; they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past September. In 1961 Dale graduated, and for the next two years he served in the Dental Corps of the US Navy in San Diego, California. But his heart belonged to eastern Washington, and after serving he and Ann moved to Yakima.

Dale loved dentistry and poured his heart and soul into his craft, his clients, and his team. He was a practicing dentist for over forty years, a pioneer who moved from the standard model of solo practitioner dentistry to working with a team of multiple assistants and hygienists to better serve more clients. He was an early advocate for highly trained assistants and hygienists to expand their duties, allowing each member of the team to operate at their peak. Most memorably Dale committed to creating not just a business, but a team, long before the current horizontal management structure became trendy. The halls of his practice rang with his booming laughter, and the respect and collegiality of his team shone through. Dale was named Dentist-Citizen of the Year by the state dental association in 1985 and served on several local and state committees, including the Yakima Valley Dental Association, Washington State Dental Association, Yakima Prosthodontic Seminar, and Northwest Prosthodontic Seminar. Before retiring in 2005, he was joined in practice by son Dale Jr. and daughter-in-law Dr. Victoria WangMiller.

In addition to dentistry, community and public service was a lifelong passion and calling for Dale. He was an elected member of the Yakima School District Board of Trustees for ten years, fighting for better education for his and all Yakima children, and was also a longtime and devoted Little League coach and umpire. Additionally, Dale served on the Yakima Valley Hearing & Speech board, the community board of St. Elizabeth Medical Center, the Central Lutheran Church council, and Sunrise Rotary since 1987. As a Memorial Hospital Hospice volunteer he brought comfort to those with life-limiting illnesses, and as “Leaping Steelhead” in the YMCA Indian Guides and Princesses program taught scores of kids (including his own) to fish, hunt snipes, and track that illusive Sasquatch. He lived a full and active outdoor life that included fishing, camping, hiking and skiing with his family; bird hunting; family vacations at Cannon Beach; and golfing, especially in Palm Desert.

Dale is survived by his wife, Ann; son Dale Jr. (Victoria WangMiller), Gavin, and Kyle of Yakima; son Erik (Karen), Seth, and Reese, also of Yakima; son Jeffry (Melissa) and Taylor of Olympia; and daughter Leslie (Matthew Hendel), Atticus, and Romeo of Seattle; in addition to sister Patricia Benjert of Sunnyside and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. His parents, Warren and Virginia Miller, preceded him.

Memorial services will be held Monday, April 11 at 1 p.m. at Central Lutheran Church in Yakima. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospice, Sunrise Rotary Charities, or any other charitable organization.

We wish to thank the many physicians and healthcare professionals at Memorial Hospital, and the dedicated friends and family who have helped care for Dale through the past years.

For an online guest book and to celebrate the life of Dale visit, www.keithandkeith.com.