June 15, 1915, the diary entry of Don Miller's mother reads, "Baked two pies and two cakes, was oh so sick, my baby was born at 7:00." Flash forward 96 ½ years to Dec. 30, 2011. Don said to his son Kirk, "I'm OK, I'm in my own bed, you're here, and I'm gonna let'er go." Seven hours later, as always, he was true to his word. Don grew up on the Miller Family Farm, a couple miles south of Buffalo Lake in northeast SD, when farming was still done with horses. In those years he gained quite a reputation of being an expert marksman and coyote tracker. He also guided duck and pheasant hunters. In 1945, he married Alice Storley and started his own place. There, he raised registered Hereford cattle and farmed for more than 20 years. He took great pride in raising quality bulls and guaranteed every one. He and Alice moved to Pierre in 1968, where he worked for the state of South Dakota as a real property appraiser. He retired in 1980. He was an avid walker until the age of 92. Many Pierre residents may recall seeing an older gentleman on his four-mile morning walk to Hardee's and back. One morning his walk took him by a retirement home where an employee came out, stopped him and tried to get him to come back into the facility. It took him quite awhile to convince her that he wasn't a resident. Don was a good, generous, principled man who will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by Alice, his wife of 66 years; his sister, Lola Mae Nelson; three children, Keith Miller, Jean White and Kirk Miller; seven grandchildren, Ross and Cole Miller, Sarah Corral, Devin and Jenna White, Drew and Taylor Miller; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death, as he put it by, "Darn near everybody." Don lived his life with a great sense of humor, so when you think of him he would want you to smile. According to Don's wishes there WILL NOT be a funeral. Instead, there will be a simple gathering at Hardee's restaurant at 9 a.m. sharp, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012.