Judy Pauline Miller

MISSOULA ~ Judy Loran Miller was born on August 28, 1943 to Henry and Helen (Tkach) Loran in Missoula, MT.  She was the middle child with two brothers.  She attended St. Anthony's grade school and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1961.

Judy met her future husband Rudy while cruising the drag in downtown Missoula.  Rudy stopped to change a flat tire for Judy and her best friend Pat Serba.  Judy and Rudy Melvin Miller were married September 10, 1962.  To this union were born three children, Tammy, Scott, and Rick.  Trevor joined the family later and was loved like a son.

Judy spent the first ten years of their marriage as a homemaker and raising their children.  When Rick entered the first grade, she went back to school and eventually entered the accounting profession, where she remained for the next 35 years.  In addition to working for various CPA firms through the years, she also operated her own accounting services business.   

Judy spent many years boating and camping, watching her children grow and welcoming her grandchildren who she adored, and they adored her.  She was an artist at heart and had many hobbies including creating beautiful stained glass, ceramics, quilting, card making, painting, and her latest diamond art pictures.  She loved to decorate her house for all the holidays, especially Halloween and Christmas.  Her Halloween decorations scared many a trick-or-treater and were often highlighted on the news, while her Christmas decorations were on the Holiday bus tour for many years.

Judy and Rudy loved to travel and had seen most of the US, as well as numerous other countries.  Judy's greatest joy in life was spending time with her family and friends.  She retired in 2013 and with Rudy at her side; they spent the next 6 years wintering in Yuma, AZ accompanied by their dear friends, Pat Serba and Dan Jones.  While enjoying the warm winter days they traveled throughout the southwest taking in all the sights.  They also spent days in Mexico enjoying the street vendors, the sidewalk cafes, and the margaritas.  They were unable to winter in AZ in 2020 because of the pandemic and she was diagnosed with cancer, for the third time, in 2021.  Even though she had beat the dreaded disease twice before, it was not to be this time.  At the age of 79, she succumbed to her illness on February 25, 2023, at the family home of 55 years, surrounded by family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister-in-law, Keeta Loran and her dear friend Dan Jones.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Rudy Miller; her children, Tammy (Pat) Brook, Scott (Dina) Miller, Rick (Jodie) Miller, and Trevor (Clare) Melugin.  Her grandchildren, Amanda (Barret) Tabert, Thomas Brook, Kip Vetos, Reilly Vetos, Haley Miller, Nick Miller, and Nathan Miller and her great-grandson, Robert Tabert who was recently born.  Judy is also survived by her two brothers Jim (Edine) Loran, and Jerry Loran; loving Cousin Sharon (Ben) Bertsch; lifelong friend Pat Serba and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Garden City Funeral Home.  Services will take place in the spring when roads are better (date to be announced).  Judy will be interred at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Missoula.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or to a cancer society of your choice.