Delia Ellen Miller

SALEM - Delia Miller died November 13, 2025, with her son and daughter-in-law by her side.

She was born August 9, 1930, in Nysted, Nebraska to Einar and Ester Saabye.

She attended McKinley Elementary School, Parish Middle School, and Salem High School in Salem. Her senior year her family moved to Solvang, CA, then to Santa Barbara, CA where she graduated from Santa Barbara High School. She returned to Salem to attend Willamette University and was initiated into the Delta Gamma Sorority.

She married Jack M. Miller of Salem in 1950. She remained in Salem the rest of her life except for when her husband was briefly stationed at Camp Pendleton during the Korean War. She raised five children.

Delia lived a life of service to her family. She was truly an ama de casa – literally translated as lover of her home. She always put family first. She transported her children all over the state to swimming meets and tennis tournaments, and officiated at many of them. She enjoyed gardening and had a special knack for growing beautiful flowers. She was an excellent cook and hosted numerous family, neighborly, and charitable gatherings at her home.

She lived a life of service to her community. She was an active member of her Delta Gamma Sorority as a student and as an alumna. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Y.M.C.A. for twelve years and served as Vice President for ten years. She was a member of many committees and in later years a member of the Y Service Club. She was an active member of the Assistance League and served as President from 1977 to 1978. For her volunteer work, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Chamber of Commerce, the Delta Gamma Shield Award, and others.

She lived a life of service to her church and God. She was a lifetime member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, taught Sunday school for 15 years, and sang in the choir for decades. As President of Lutheran Fine Arts, she initiated the creation of and nurtured what has become the Willamette Master Chorus.

Although Delia is gone, her life’s work is not. People still benefit from the way she lived through her perpetual optimism, selfless generosity, good humor, and delight in uplifting the lives of others. They can patronize the Y.M.C.A, thousands of children can receive brand new clothing through the Assistance League’s Operation Schol Bell, worship God and listen to a beautiful organ at St. Mark Lutheran Church, and attend the Willamette Master Chorus concerts.

She is pre-deceased by her parents, sons John Miller and Paul Miller, brother Hap Saabye and his wife Betty Lou Saabye, and sister Alice Ziliotto.

She is survived by her children Mark Miller, Jane Loverin (Robert), Eric Miller (Kim Geelan), daughter-in-law Gail Miller, and her grandchildren Mykle Sabo, Bryan Smith, Stephen Miller, Jonathan Miller, Ben Loverin, and Jackie Savage. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the John M. Miller Scholarship at Pioneer Trust Bank in the Salem Foundation Account, the Willamette Master Chorus, St. Mark Lutheran Church, the Y.M.C.A., or a charity of your choice may be made.

A service in her memory will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem Sunday, December 7th at 2:00 PM.