Service Information
Bruce Miller, age 88, of Glencoe, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at GlenFields Living with Care in Glencoe.
Celebration Of Life will be held Friday, January 24, 2025, 11:00 A.M., at the Christ Lutheran Church in Glencoe, with interment immediately following in the Christ Lutheran Church Columbarium.
Gathering of Family & Friends will be held Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Christ Lutheran Church in Glencoe from 4:00-7:00 P.M., and will continue one hour prior to the service ALL at the church.
Military Honors by the Glencoe Military Honor Guard.
Memorials preferred to the Crow River Habitat for Humanity (1020 MN-7 Suite A, Hutchinson, MN 55350), Alzheimer’s Research (https://www.alz.org/), and the Christ Lutheran Church (1820 Knight Ave N, Glencoe, MN 55336).
The Celebration of Life will be livestreamed on the Christ Lutheran Church website (https://www.christluth.com/) and on the Christ Lutheran Facebook Page. (https://www.facebook.com/christlutheranchurchglencoemn) (https://www.youtube.com/live/5bAYTlVuqMM?si=OPEnFb-2PgKdPwDS)
Obituary
Gerald “Bruce” Miller and his twin sister, Beth, were born on April 8, 1936, in Shelby, Nebraska. He was one of seven children born to Howard and Ada Miller. Bruce was baptized at the United Methodist Church and lived his first five years in Shelby. Due to the Dust Bowl years in Nebraska, they made the move to MN and eventually landed in Glencoe in 1948. Glencoe ended up being his forever home.
Bruce attended Henry Hill School, starting in 7th grade. His teenage years consisted of playing multiple sports, being highly involved in 4-H, spending time with his family and friends, and fulfilling daily responsibilities on the family farm.
Bruce was confirmed at First Congregational Church. He graduated from Glencoe High School in 1954. He went on to the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, where he graduated with a degree in Agriculture in 1956. He enlisted in the Navy and was in active duty from 1957-1959. He was Honorably Discharged on March 16, 1959. He loved his time in the Navy and he was always very proud to have served his country. He was truly honored to be presented with a Quilt of Valor at Christ Lutheran Church on November 11, 2018, for his years of military service.
After Bruce served his country, he moved back to Glencoe where he operated the family farm and started working for Pioneer Hybrid International. He remained with Pioneer for 44 years from 1960-2004. He was a wonderful salesman who prided himself in always being honest, and fair and having excellent relationships with his customers.
In 1963, he met a young Home Economics teacher, Marcia McKenzie. It didn’t take long for him to realize that she was “the one”. In 1964, he married Marcia, who became his forever “sweetheart”. Bruce and Marcia celebrated 60 years of marriage this past July. Together, they created a life of hard work, community involvement, dedication to one another, happiness, and lots of love.
In 1964, Bruce joined Marcia as a member at Christ Lutheran Church in Glencoe. For sixty years, he was an active member of the church, serving on the church council, men’s Bible study, ushering, stewardship committee, confirmation mentor, and regular attendee. It brought him great joy and contentment to attend church and talk with longtime friends, even as recently as Christmas Eve 2024.
Bruce had many other volunteer organizations in which he served. He served as a local and state president for Young Adult Citizens (YAC), and a member/officer of county farmer organizations. Two of the most gratifying groups that he was involved with were the Henry Hill Renovations Committee and the Crow River Habitat for Humanity. The time and energy that he spent raising money in order to save the Henry Hill building was one of his greatest accomplishments. He enjoyed working with these organizations that he deeply believed in. In the later years, he also became an active member of the American Legion. He served on the honor guard, executive board, and put in countless hours organizing events.
Bruce had a plentiful number of hobbies throughout his lifetime, but the greatest of those was to be a spectator of his daughter's and grandchildren’s activities, especially the athletic events. There were minimal events that he has missed through the years and absolutely nothing was more of a priority for him. Traveling with friends and family was also a top enjoyment. He visited approximately 20 countries with Marcia and other close friends, which created memories that were so special to him. Being the history buff that he was, he loved to learn on these trips. In addition, he was fond of playing pinnacle and whist, watching his Minnesota sports teams, reading history books, and taking drives to look at the crops. Starting in 2002, he loved spending time up north at Eagle Lake, fishing, swimming, boating, renovating and just creating so many amazing memories with his immediate family. Time spent with his family was always his greatest joy. His presence going forward will be forever missed.
Bruce is survived by his wife, Marcia; daughters, Lori (Joel Hayford) Miller of Waseca, and Julie (Dan) Holgate of New Prague; grandchildren, Alex (fiancé, Kelsey Martin) Holgate and McKenzie Holgate; siblings, Gary (Dace) Miller, Marilyn Moorlach, Susan (Darroll) Engelmann; sisters-in-law, Mary Miller and Mary Lou McKenzie; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Ada Miller; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Donald and Marie McKenzie; siblings, Beth Wilkins, Stephen Miller, and Jean Arlt; brothers-in-law, Gerald McKenzie, Louis Wilkins, Les Arlt, and Mike Moorlach.
He will be lovingly remembered by his family for his quiet, gentle manner, his patience and his principles.
Brad & Bonnie Hahn says
Marcia, so sorry for your loss. May God keep you and your family in His Loving embrace. RIP Bruce.
Carole Denton says
Bruce visited us at the farm in Osceola, NE, on a leave from the Navy. I’m 11 years his junior so you can imagine how impressed I was. My mother, Doreen, was Uncle Howard’s youngest sister. I loved visiting Uncle Howard, Aunt Ada, and their family in Glencoe. I am thankful for their Christian influence on me. ?
Nancy Klobe Ellefson says
Marcia and family, I’m so sorry for your loss. I have fond memories of talking with Bruce when his mom lived at Orchard Estates. When I was growing up on the farm I remember Dad “chining” with Bruce over the line fence. He was a great guy!
Leroy and Darlene Karg says
Sad to hear about Bruce’s passing
So many good memories of being
4-H families
Our Sympathy to you
Jamie Alsleben says
Marcia & family,
Thank you for sharing such a wonderfully thoughtful guy with all who encountered and conversed with him. I always walked away from a visit with Bruce better because of it. Wishing you peace and love from my family to each of you.
Renee Bryan says
Marcia and family,
I am saddened to hear of Bruce’s passing. May the memories you have of Bruce bring you comfort during this difficult time. I met Bruce through Crow River Habitat for Humanity. He was such a kind and generous man. May he rest in peace.
Renee Bryan
James Rehmann says
Marcia and family, I’m so sorry for your loss, I’m so fortunate to have grew up in the same neighborhood and had the pleasure to get to know Bruce, Bruce always had a smile on his face, I wish you much comfort in this sad time.
Mary Michaletz Hermann says
Marcia & family,
I’m so sorry for your loss – my sympathy to the whole Miller family. I spoke with Bruce for a few minutes last summer when I was visiting my aunt at Glenfields – sharing wonderful memories of growing up in our old farm neighborhood. May you be comforted with God’s love and peace.
Jane Kuhlmann says
I will always remember him as my Pioneer sales person. I considered him as a friend. And enjoyed many talks with him over the years. Though I have lost touch with him I consider Bruce with many memories. May your family be comforted with the knowledge of the peace and love of Jesus Christ.
Sharon Logan Romo says
I did not know Bruce, however, Marcia and I met as freshmen at Concordia College and were roommates for one semester. My sympathies to the family.
Marilyn & Dick Pedersen says
Marcia,
I got a call this afternoon from a friend of Bruce – Leland Johnson. He is a friend here in Owatonna that remembered that we, too, knew you and Bruce. He told me about Bruce’s death and I knew I would be reaching out to you. It’s been awhile since we have been in touch, but the memories are alive and well! I will try to contact you and we can have a “catch – up” chat. We are sending our love and sympathy to you and the girls. God bless you with peace and comfort. Lots of hugs!!
Janel Tangen says
Marcia and family, so sorry to hear of Bruce’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of loss. Don and Janel Tangen