John (JB) Benjamin Miller, Sr.

John (JB) Benjamin Miller, Sr. passed away at his son (Jim’s) home in Salem, Oregon on August 19^th, 2023.  His battle with serious medical issues in recent years showed his courage in facing life challenges with a smile despite the pain.  He stayed strong until the end. 

He was born in Halltown, Missouri on October 6^th, 1942 to Roy and Minnie Miller.  He had 4 brothers and 3 sisters.  He was raised in Rosedale, a rural community south of Salem, Oregon.  After High School he enlisted in the Army and became a paratrooper.

He married Betty Lou Russell on June 14, 1963, a marriage that lasted 50 years until her death in 2013 from lung cancer.  They raised 4 children together, Betty’s daughter and son from a previous marriage and their two sons.

His life’s work was in construction building houses, brickwork, and concrete work.  He and Betty established a business in Alaska.  He fell in love with Alaska after he and his brother, Stan, went to Anchorage in 1965 to work at the rebuilding after the 8.7 earthquake there.  He came back to Salem in 1966, but ended up going back to build his home in North Pole, near Fairbanks.  Later on he bought a home in Selah, Washington and wintered there, spending the summers in Alaska. 

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Roy and Minnie Miller, his wife Betty Lou, his son John Jr and his brothers Mike and Stan,

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Mary Miller, Salem, OR, daughter-in-law, Karen Brown, North Pole, AK, daughter-in-law, Teresa Nelson, Wasilla, AK, stepdaughter, Angela Towery, Selah, WA, stepson, Tony LeBeau, Fairbanks, AK, brothers LeRoy, Cordell, OK and Dennis, Canton, GA, sisters, Mary Garr, Renton, WA, Marie Layton,Woodburn, OR, and Patsy Schmitt, Salem, OR., 14 grandchildren, 20 plus great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.