Born Friday, March 16, 1945 in Wenatchee, Washington to Claude & Vera Miller, Duane joined sisters Yvonne and Anita and brother Daryl, with brother Mike and sisters Janis and Debbie arriving later. Growing up on the Douglas County farm, surrounded by cousins on nearby farms, life was good -- horseback riding, helping with chores and Grandpa Rueben's garden, raising 4-H animals, and many Sunday picnics with more relatives.
Duane attended St. Andrews School until it consolidated with Coulee City schools. He played football while attending Coulee City High School, graduating with the Class of 1963.
On Saturday, May 6, 1967 Duane married Susan Johnson in the Coulee City Presbyterian Church. Duane was a farmer-rancher for many years and was a member of the St. Andrews Grange. In younger years he participated in roping competitions. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and helping his kids with their 4-H steers, proving that a donkey really can teach a steer to lead. He attended many school events and numerous football and basketball games. Duane had many horses through the years and especially appreciated the opportunity to have two horses at the racetrack. A special family memory is the Christmas pony for his daughter. Duane welcomed his grandchildren as a special gift, often visiting at day care, giving many rides on the four-wheeler, and taking Maria to horse sales.
Duane is survived by his wife Susan of Coulee City, WA; daughter Lynne Lynch and grandchildren Maria and Luke Lynch, all of Moses Lake, WA; brother Dr. Daryl Miller of Wenatchee, WA; sisters Yvonne Lakoduk of Post Falls, ID; Janis Christensen, Sammamish, WA, and Debra Scheib, Ellensburg, WA.
He is preceded in death by two sons: Todd Miller in 2002 and an infant son in 1972; son-in-law Kyle Lynch in 2016; his parents Claude Miller and Vera Miller; sister Anita Borst of Wilbur, WA and brother Mike Miller of Portland, OR.
We will miss his love, unselfishness, dry sense of humor, thriftiness, baling wire and black tape, and his strong arms that held us together in times of grief. May he rest in peace and free from pain.
Services will be announced at a later date.
Donations may be made in Duane's memory to the Coulee City Ambulance Fund, PO Box 398, Coulee City, WA 99115.
Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee, WA is assisting Duane's family. Memories and expressions of caring may be shared at http://www.stratefuneral.com.
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